Teagasc Research Centres
Moorepark Food Research Centre
The Moorepark Food Research Centre undertakes scientific research and provides technological services to the dairy processing and food ingredients sectors of Irish industry.
The DPC contains over 100 personnel, most of whom have third-level qualifications in science and technology. Research facilities are of the highest standard, having benefited from extensive investment in recent years.
A unique asset of the centre is its pilot plant, an ultramodern 2,500-sq. metre facility operated by the Teagasc subsidiary, Moorepark Technology Ltd.
The research expertise of the DPC embraces many aspects of food science and technology and, relative to comparable institutes, has particular strengths in process and development.
Contact: Dr W J Donnelly, Head of Centre
E-mail:
eileen.lehane@teagasc.ie
Phone: +353 25 42222
Fax: +353 25 42340
Moorepark Technology Ltd
Moorepark Technology Ltd. (MTL) is a service company providing pilot plant and research services to the food processing industry. The company involves a joint venture between commercial food companies and Teagasc.
The assets of MTL comprise an ultra modern pilot plant, containing the most up-to-date and versatile pilot scale processing equipment.
MTL offers extensive pilot plant facilities to national and overseas companies involved in the food and drinks industry.
Services include:
- Pilot plant rental
- Contract research and development
- Small scale manufacturing
- Technical consultancy.
Contact: Dr Sean Tuohy, General Manager
E-mail:
sean.tuohy@teagasc.ie
Phone: +353 25 42222
Fax: +353 25 42340
Web: www.moorepark.net
Moorepark Dairy Production Research Centre
Moorepark Dairy Production Research Centre is responsible for research in dairy and pig production.
The role of research at Moorepark is to anticipate the production needs of a rapidly changing industry and to provide dairy and pig producers with new and adapted technologies to improve competitiveness and efficiency.
Over 50 scientific and technical professionals, supported by an administrative and operative team, staff Moorepark Dairy Production Research Centre.
Moorepark operates five individual farm units, totalling 320 hectares, and utilises over 600 dairy cows in the research programme. Modern laboratory and computer facilities, state of the art milking facilities and extensive farm buildings, modified for research purposes support this. The pig programme is operated in a modern unit housing 300 sows and 3,000 other pigs.
Contact: Dr Pat Dillon, Head of Centre
Johnstown Castle
Johnstown Castle Environment Research Centre provides national research information on the environment and soils. In addition, it is the home of the Teagasc Analytical Services Laboratory for soil, herbage, water and general agricultural materials. The research programme focuses on researching the scientific and technical basis for the development and practice of environmentally sustainable farming, including organic farming.
Over 90 staff are employed at the centre, including 13 research staff and 34 technicians.
Contact: Dr. Noel Culleton, Head, Johnstown Castle Environment Research
Centre, Johnstown Castle, Wexford.
E-mail:
noel.culleton@teagasc.ie
Telephone: +353 53 9171200
Mobile: +353 87
8658343
Fax: +353 53 9142004
Oak Park
Oak Park Research Centre is the national centre for arable crop research. The main objective of the programme at Oak Park is to support the arable crops sector of Irish agriculture in maintaining, and where possible, expanding its contribution to the national economy. The Centre also has responsibility for breeding improved varieties of potatoes, perennial ryegrass and white clover. Allied to its extensive research programme, Oak Park provides a range of special services to farmers and the agri-industry.
Contact: Dr James Burke, Head of Centre
E-mail:
jim.burke@teagasc.ie
Phone: +353 59 9170200
Fax: +353 59 9142423
Grange Research Centre
Grange is the national Beef Research Centre which provides research information on all aspects of beef production in Ireland. Staff numbers consist of 11 researchers, with a support staff of 60. In addition, 15-20 students undertake post graduate studies as part of the programme.
The vision for Grange is to be as centre of international scientific excellence in research and technology development for the efficient production of safe, quality, healthy produce, in profitable production systems that meet stringent environmental and animal welfare standards. The strategic intent will be to provide scientific and technological support for sustainable and profitable production.
The centre has a land base of 250 ha of grassland and typically has 1100 - 1200 beef animals which are used as part of the beef research programme. The animal wintering facility can accommodate over 1100 cattle and has the capacity to individually feed 400 animals. The Centre has an expansive laboratory network which supports the research programme.
Grange contacts
Beef research centre
Teagasc, Grange Research Centre, Dunsany, Co Meath.
Tel: +353 9046 26700, Fax: +353 46 9026154.
| Head of Centre: | Dr Edward O'Riordan | edward.oriordan@teagasc.ie |
| Beef Production Dept.: | Dr Padraig O'Kiely | padraig.okiely@teagasc.ie |
Athenry Research Centre
Athenry Research Centre provides national research services in sheep production and animal reproduction. The centre has sheep facilities at Athenry, a lowland sheep unit at Knockbeg in Carlow and a hill sheep farm at Leenane, Mayo.
Contact: Dr J P Hanrahan, Head, Sheep Production Department
E-mail:
seamus.hanrahan@teagasc.ie
Phone: +353 91 845845
Fax: +353 91 845847
Rural Economy Research Centre
The Rural Economy Research Centre (RERC) is Teagasc’s Economics and Social Science Research Institute. It’s mission is to produce high quality social science research and policy advice to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of Irish Agriculture and to enhance the quality of life in rural Ireland, thus contributing to the achievement of Teagasc’s key goals:
- Competitiveness and Innovation in Agriculture
- Sustainable Systems of Agriculture
- Rural Viability
An important focus is placed on policy relevant research that will help policy makers to design and implement better public policy.
The Centre is divided into three research departments:
- Survey Department
- Agriculture and Food Economics Research Department
- Rural Viability and Rural Sustainability Research Department
Staff are very active in national and international research networks, participating in a number of EU Framework projects at present. The Centre has very close links with Universities in Ireland, with some staff teaching and supervising graduate students at these institutions.
The work of the Centre is published in a variety of ways, e.g. papers at national and international conferences, national reports, papers in refereed scientific journals and via the Centre’s working paper series.
Greater detail, including staff details and publications, are available on the RERC website. PhD students are recruited annually financed by the Walsh Fellowship Programme. Post doctoral researchers are also hired regularly, financed by external research funding.
RERC has two base locations, one at the Teagasc Athenry Campus just outside Galway City and the other at the Teagasc Kinsealy Campus in Dublin 17. For directions see the here.
For further information on RERC please contact:
Dr Cathal O’Donoghue,
Head of Centre
Rural Economy Research Centre
Teagasc Mellows Campus
Athenry, Co. Galway
IRELAND
Phone: + 353 91 845 244
Fax: + 353 91 844 296
Email:
frances.conerney@teagasc.ie
Review of Economic Research Programmes
Kinsealy Research Centre
Kinsealy Research Centre is the focal point for research and technical development for the Irish horticultural industry. The role of Kinsealy is to provide up-to-date technological information to ensure the long-term competitiveness of Irish horticulture.
A comprehensive research programme on biotechnology, forestry (Realising Ash's Potential (RAP) Project), nursery stock, protected food and ornamental and amenity crops and vegetable crops is undertaken.
Kinsealy also provides essential back up analytical and diagnostic services for Teagasc advisers and for the horticultural industry.
Contact: Mr. Lorcan O’Toole, Head of Centre
E-mail:
lorcan.otoole@teagasc.ie
Phone: +353 1 8460644
Fax: +353 1 8460524
