Teagasc Climate Centre
Teagasc is establishing a new virtual Teagasc Climate Centre to co-ordinate climate research and innovation and to accelerate efforts to bring 'almost ready' and 'early stage' technologies to deployment stage.
The three key pillars of the new Climate Action Strategy are:
- A Signpost Advisory Programme
- A Sustainability Digital Platform
- A Virtual National Centre for Agri-food Climate Research and Innovation
Teagasc Climate Centre
This National Centre will build on existing research infrastructure and human capital, working with national and international organisations and institutions to create an effective, trusted partnership. It will provide independent robust scientific and technological solutions to lead the agri-food sector towards climate-neutrality by 2050. Additionally, it will strive to be a world class agri-food climate science centre that will enhance Ireland’s reputation as a global leader in this area. It will also address Ireland’s wider environmental objectives to improve water quality, reduce ammonia emissions and improve biodiversity. This will facilitate the Irish agriculture sector to meet its commitments in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Twenty four new scientific staff will join the virtual centre.
Key areas of action within the Centre
- Reduce nitrogen emmissions
- Reduce Methane emmissions
- Increase Carbon capture
- Enhance Biodiversity
- Increase Diversification
- Enhance Adaptation
- Circular Food System
- Supporting policy
Advantages of the Virtual Centre in Climate Change
- National Focal Point for agriculture related mitigation solutions to climate change
- Increase Teagasc capacity related research - people, infrastructure and capacity
- Greater co-operation across Teagasc research and KT programmes
- Better able to inform national policy with regards to agriculture climate mitigation options
- Better position to develop national and international collaboration
- Greater efficiency in terms of the use of resources - human, facilities and data platforms
Milestones
Q1 - 2023 National Virtual Centre established
Q2 - 2023 Publish New GHG MACC
Q4 - 2023 First annual progress report on ‘almost ready’ technologies
Q1 - 2024 Publish Irish Specific Enteric Methane Emission Factors for Dairy Cows
Q4 - 2024 Addition of Biodiversity Habitats Locations in NFS
Q1 - 2027 Publish Irish Specific Soil Carbon Sequestration/Emission Factors
Q2 - 2027 Significant Revision of the GHG MACC
For more information and to read the Climate Action Strategy document visit www.teagasc.ie/environment/climate-action/