Pillar 3:
Upskilling farmers, advisors, teachers, industry professionals and students
Objective:
Upskilling farmers, advisors, teachers, industry professionals and students through the provision of targeted training using a toolbox of tailored solutions and the revision of curricula
Key Actions:
- Provide training to all Teagasc Knowledge Transfer staff (including advisory and
education) to enhance their knowledge and skills on key aspects relating to reducing
nutrient loss to water bodies and a toolbox of targeted solutions. - Provide training to partner stakeholders (e.g. co-ops, farmers, contractors, private
consultants) to enhance their knowledge and skills on key aspects relating to reducing
nutrient loss to water bodies and a toolbox of targeted solutions. - A range of courses from a basic introductory course to an accredited course will be
made available to farmers and professionals. These will include online self-directed; and face-to-face courses. - Develop specific catchments/waterbody advice factsheets highlighting the water
quality challenges and targeted solutions for that catchment/waterbody. - A ‘Better Farming for Water’ campaign manual will be published covering all relevant
aspects relating to reducing nutrient loss from agriculture including: nutrient
management, design and use of nutrient mitigation measures to reduce diffuse pollution, farmyard design to limit point source pollution; roadway design to limit sediment runoff. - Teagasc teaching resources for students will be revised and updated to ensure that
all aspects of best practice relating to reducing nutrient loss to water from agriculture
are included in the curriculum.
Improving water quality is not a new concept and therefore considerable knowledge and skills already exists amongst a variety of stakeholders. The ‘Better Farming for Water’ campaign will build on existing skills and focus on enhancing the knowledge and capacity of all stakeholders through a combination of training material and courses. These will include a range of courses from a basic introductory course to accredited courses which will be made available to farmers, advisors and other stakeholders.
A specific resource will be the publication of the ‘Better Farming for Water’ manual which will address the relevant key aspects relating to improving water quality. The manual will be developed for usage in a range of formats/media. Coupled with the manual, the ‘Better Farming for Water’ campaign will develop waterbody/soil type/enterprise specific advice factsheets, highlighting the water quality challenges and targeted solutions.
Students are a very important group. Teagasc courses will be assessed, revised and updated to ensure that all aspects of best practice relating to reducing nutrient loss to water from agriculture are included in the curriculum.
Key Deliverables
Q3 2024
Training material for advisors and stakeholders provided
Q3 2024
In-service training provided to all Teagasc tillage, drystock and dairy advisors
Q4 2024
Tailored waterbody advice sheets completed to address specific water quality issues
Q4 2024
Revision of teaching resources completed