Festival of Farming and Food – SFI Science Week at Teagasc 2020
Join Teagasc for a series of exciting virtual events for Science Week (November 8-15) as part of ‘The Festival of Farming and Food – SFI Science Week at Teagasc’. The theme for Science Week 2020 is ‘Choosing our Future’; focusing on how science can improve our lives in the future and in the present.
This will explore how science can help us to make positive choices that will impact the environment, our health, and our quality of life. Changes based in scientific evidence that we make today can hugely improve our future life, but also right now. Join our events on Zoom and get a chance to put your questions to our scientists in our live Q&As. Broadcasters Damien O’Reilly (RTÉ) and Jonathan McCrea (Newstalk) are presenting the events, which will take place each day at 11am on Zoom and all events are free thanks to support from Science Foundation Ireland and Teagasc.
Find out more about the week or click on the different days listed below
Monday, November 9 - Sustaining Plant Diversity into the Future
The beautiful National Botanic Gardens in Dublin is not just for recreation. It is a hub for the conservation of threatened plants, research on safeguarding plants and education of future gardeners. Staff from the gardens and the Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture will highlight some remarkable plants and initiatives for a plant-filled future. RTÉ’s Damien O’Reilly brings us on this virtual tour.
Tuesday, November 10 - Soil Health is our Wealth
Soils are diverse and multifunctional living ecosystems, underpinning most of our food and fibre production, but also other critical natural services for society, including the recycling of nutrients, atmospheric CO2 sequestration and water regulation. As soils are a limiting resource, protecting soil health from degradation is critical for human wellbeing. Join us to hear about soils and their impact on society. RTÉ’s Damien O’Reilly brings us on this virtual event with researchers from Teagasc Johnstown Castle Environment Research Centre.
Wednesday, November 11 - Sustainable Farming: Farm to Fork
This event focuses on how we can grow dairy farming sustainably as well as understand how new technologies are being incorporated into food science. RTÉ’s Damien O’Reilly brings us on this virtual event with scientists from Teagasc Moorepark and VISTAMILK SFI research centre.
Thursday, November 12 - Back to the Future - Food Fermentation
Food fermentation is one of the oldest food preservation methods going back hundreds of years. The Festival of Farming and Food live is taking food fermentation into the future, with next generation DNA sequencing, food microscopy, virtual reality, robotics and even 3D printing. Multi award-winning broadcaster, Jonathan McCrea brings us on this virtual event with researchers from Teagasc Moorepark Food Research Centre.
Friday, November 13 - A Taste of the Future
Plants, Mushrooms, Insects, Algae, Big Data – all are features on the journey of food from the farm to your plate. Then your senses get involved and your choices can affect health and sustainability. Our story highlights Teagasc research that’s changing the direction of that food journey, and gives you a Taste of the Future! Jonathan McCrea brings us on this virtual event with researchers from Teagasc Ashtown Food Research Centre.