Food
Unearthing the value of Irish fruit and vegetables
Policies reflecting the link between food and health present opportunities for the Irish horticulture sector to generate both economic and societal benefits. Dermot Callaghan, Head of Horticulture Development Department, Teagasc, provides more information.
01 January 2022
TResearch Autumn/Winter 2021
TResearch is an official science publication of Teagasc. It aims to disseminate the results of the organisation’s research to a broad audience. The Autumn/Winter 2021 issue of TResearch magazine brings a new look. We’ve put the people who carry out our cutting-edge research front and centre.
31 December 2021
Unearthing a medieval town
For the final Map of the Month of the year 2021, we take a closer look the abandoned town of Newtown near Jerpoint Abbey, Co. Kilkenny, which according to local legend is the resting place of St. Nicholas. This map by Daniel O'Mahony, Walsh Scholar looks at how technology revolutionised archaeology.
29 December 2021
International Stakeholder Workshop on Best Practice for the Control of Human Pathogenic Microorganisms in Plant Production Systems
A new report on Best Practice for the Control of Human Pathogenic Microorganisms in Plant Production Systems was published recently by the HUPLANTcontrol COST action; Control of Human Pathogenic Microorganisms in Plant Production Systems, with the report publication coordinated by Teagasc
23 December 2021
Farming the sea, cleaning up our act
Amy Fitzpatrick, PhD candidate, Munster Technological University and Teagasc Food Biosciences Department won third prize with this article at the MTU Postgraduate Research Competition 2021. She discusses Farming the sea and cleaning up our act to make fish safer to eat
10 December 2021
A day in the life: Diane Purcell-Meyerink, Teagasc Researcher
Diane Purcell-Meyerink began working at the Teagasc Food Centre, in July 2021. A Day in the Life... tells more about her well-traveled career path, taking her onto the NASA Ames base in California, to her current work in Teagasc on seaweeds and her Marie Cuire fellowship project ALGIPRO.
07 December 2021
Feeding a healthy gut
Dr André Brodkorb and Dr Linda Giblin, food scientists at Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, study food digestion and bioactives. Their research features on tonight's (Monday, 6 December) episode of “10 Things to Know About…Gut Health”, airing on RTÉ One Television at 8.30pm.
06 December 2021
A day in the life: Andrea Uccello, Teagasc Researcher
Andrea Uccello is from Italy and he began working for Teagasc in July 2021. A Day in the Life... video tells how he studied Forest Science in Florence (Italy), embarked on his research journey and went on to work in the mushroom industry. Find out more about Andrea's interesting work training robots
01 December 2021
A day in the life: Caoileann Murphy, Teagasc Researcher
Caoileann Murphy began working with Teagasc in March 2021. A Day in the Life... video tells how she became fascinated with nutrition about age eight when she picked up a healthy eating leaflet in the waiting room of the dentist surgery. Caoileann said "That was it, I was hooked". Find out more
23 November 2021
Newly funded project to investigate the use of phage to treat infections in pigs
PhageSUAS- “Improved Pig Health through the Novel Application of SynBio in Phage Therapy” is a newly funded project led by Teagasc’s Dr John Kenny, with partners at University College Cork, Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Madison-Wisconsin. Over €340,000 was awarded to the research
22 November 2021
Clean Livestock policy - Sheep
Presenting lambs clean at the abattoir becomes more challenging as the year progresses particularly for those finishing outdoors as weather conditions deteriorate. Ciaran Lynch, Teagasc Sheep Specialist discusses the Clean Livestock Policy for sheep
17 November 2021
How to eat and exercise your way to healthy ageing
Many of us first think about healthy ageing the day we turn 65, but age-related changes in our bodies start long before that. This article by Teagasc Researchers Caoileann Murphy and Sinéad McCarthy, first appeared on RTÉ Brainstorm recently
16 November 2021
Safe and sustainable irrigation water options for fruit and vegetable production
It is predicted that climate change will have an impact on our fruit & vegetable producers in Ireland. Teagasc, along with partners in TU Dublin & UCD, has recently started a DAFM funded project called HortAssure which focuses on microbial & chemical safety in fruit and vegetable production.
10 November 2021
Creating Our Future
I’m sure you have seen or heard ads for the Creating Our Future initiative, which is a campaign being run by the government of Ireland to find out from the public what they think we should be doing scientific research on in the future.
09 November 2021
Digesting the Research- How do fruit and veg affect our digestive system?
Every cell in our body requires fuel to function. When we eat food, we get energy from carbohydrates, fats and proteins – these are called macronutrients. On top of that, food, especially fruit and veg, have a number of other micronutrients. Find out What’s New in Fruit & Veg from Teagasc scientists
09 November 2021
Generating bioplastics using haemoglobin from blood
On “10 Things to Know About … Blood”, airing tonight, Monday, 8 November, on RTÉ One Television at 8:30pm, presenter Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin will meet Teagasc Researchers, Dr Anne Maria Mullen and Dr Carlos Alvarez, who have developed a method to generate bioplastics using haemoglobin from blood.
08 November 2021
Agriculture Climate Targets Challenging but Achievable
Teagasc is committed to continue its research and advisory programme supporting farmers to meet the reduction targets for greenhouse gas emissions set in the Government’s Climate Action Plan.
07 November 2021
Healthy Workplaces Lighten the Load
Last week was European Week for Safety & Health at Work themed: ‘Healthy Workplaces Lighten the Load’ - part of the Healthy Workplaces Campaign 2020-22. Francis Bligh & John McNamara, Teagasc Health and Safety Specialists take this opportunity to advise on avoiding work-related injury on the farm
02 November 2021
Halloween - What do you know?
With Halloween upon us, Teagasc Daily asks the question: What do you know about pumpkins, bats and turnips? On Oíche Shamhna (Halloween night) long before pumpkin carving, the humble turnip was traditionally carved out. And hear what Éanna Ní Lamhna has to say on bats on the Environment Edge podcast
31 October 2021
Options for Organic Tillage Growers
The second in a series of Autumn organic webinars, hosted by the Teagasc Organic Specialists, takes place on Wednesday, 27 October at 7:30pm and focuses on Options for Organic Tillage Growers. Register here
24 October 2021
Commuting before the pandemic
As some of us return to the work and college after 18 months of working from home, the September Map of the Month looks at pre-pandemic commuting patterns – highlighting how important regional towns are. It is interesting to think how the next survey of commuting will differ.
01 October 2021
Microbiology for non-microbiologists- training course from Teagasc Food Industry Development
On 7th and 14th October, Teagasc will run a virtual training workshop, part-funded by the Rural Food Skillnet, that will be of interest to food businesses and producers who would like to learn more about the essentials of food microbiology, interpreting lab reports, food expiry dates and more.
24 September 2021
The dark mysteries of the soil beneath our feet
Soil is a complex matrix and its chemical composition often depends on the location in the landscape, the parent material underneath, and the influence of the management above. This article by Senior Research Officer, Dr Karen Daly, Teagasc Johnstown Castle first appeared on RTÉ Brainstorm last week
23 September 2021
Milk quality research focusing on chlorine related residues
The use of chlorine-based detergents are very effective in maintaining hygiene of the milking machine and bulk talk. Residues, however, could potentially impact on milk powder as an ingredient for infant formula. Bernie O’Brien & David Gleeson, Teagasc, Moorepark discuss their research in this area
17 September 2021
Human health advantages of pasture-derived milk fat products
Many people today believe that dairy fats are an “unhealthy’ part of our daily diet. However, this belief is not supported by current scientific evidence. Here, PhD Walsh Scholar student, Orla Skillington at VistaMilk talks about the human health advantages of pasture-derived milk fat products
02 September 2021
Developing Rural Ireland - A History of the Irish Agricultural Advisory Services
A new book that documents the history of the Irish agricultural advisory services and its role in developing rural Ireland, was launched at a virtual event at Teagasc, Oak Park, Carlow, yesterday, Wednesday 1 September.
02 September 2021
How can we enjoy a tasty, fatty meal without weight gain?
Foods rich in dietary fat are known to cause weight gain if consumed excessively, and yet we still eat them because they are tasty and are in abundant supply. This article by Oleksandr Nychyk, Wiley Barton, Paul D. Cotter and Kanishka N. Nilaweera, Teagasc first appeared on RTÉ Brainstorm last week
23 August 2021
Forest fungi
Exotic mushrooms produced from hardwood logs can be an extra income earner on many broadleaf forests. The demand for edible wild mushrooms is rapidly increasing. Most of the exotic mushrooms on sale in restaurants and supermarkets in Ireland are imported. Michael Somers, Forestry Advisor has details
20 August 2021
Devenish Teagasc partnership to help agri industry meet climate challenge
Ireland’s food and farming sector will have a significant competitive advantage in the global market place by creating one of the world’s most sustainable food systems through a unique collaboration between animal nutrition company, Devenish, and agriculture and food development authority, Teagasc
17 August 2021
Microbiome Friendly Brunch
Fancy a Microbiome Friendly Brunch with Darina Allen, Ballymaloe Cookery School, & John Leech, scientist at APC Microbiome Ireland, on World Microbiome Day on June 27th? The cookery demonstration will launch at 11am on World Microbiome Day and be available on demand afterwards. Register here
27 June 2021