ucd school of agriculture and food science research and innovation course prospectus

Animal and Crop Science

UCD School of Agriculture and Food Sciencewww.ucd.ie/agfood

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ReSeARCh ThemeSThe core objective of the Animal and Crop Science group is to advance through innovative research, efficient and sustainable animal and crop production to contribute to national targets and adhere to policy reform. The major strength of this group is that it encompasses a diversity of expertise to potentially address full-cycle research in agriculture and primary food production. This section currently comprises 16 PIs, 49 postgraduates, 20 contract research staff and has secured €26.6million funding from 2007 to date.

The current research priorities are as follows:

Sustainable animal productionThe research seeks to progress improvements in sustainable animal production through advances in areas which include animal nutrition, animal nutrition and environment, reproductive physiology, and biotechnology as related to molecular genetics, functional genomics and metabolism and growth and animal breeding.

Sustainable crop productionThe sustainable crop science research programme aligns closely with developments in industry and also investigates novel topics in crop production such as innovative input technology research to improve yield and quality in crop production systems.

equine scienceEquine research encompasses equine exercise physiology, equine fitness related health, genomics and breeding and equine reproduction.

eXAmPLeS oF ReSeARCh ACTiviTyReproductive physiologyInternationally renowned UCD Reproductive Biology Research Cluster is a research initiative between UCD and Teagasc, funded by SFI to investigate solutions to reproductive problems in cattle.

Animal nutritionRecently funded projects lead by UCD animal nutrition scientists in the areas of feed evaluation for accurate nutrition and marine compounds to enhance productivity and health in pigs under pin current research in the group.

Animal nutrition and environmentThe UCD animal nutrition group has lead and partnered on numerous projects in reducing methane emissions, nitrogen excretion, ammonia, nitrous oxide from ruminants and also dietary manipulation of gut health in pigs and the impact of pig production on the environment.

Animal genomicsThe Animal Genomics Laboratory in UCD has lead and partnered in the areas of functional genomics of host response to infection and development of high-throughput genetic markers for beef traits using variation in genes subject to genomic imprinting.

equine scienceSFI has recently funded a UCD lead project to catalogue the genes that contribute to elite physiological performance in the Thoroughbred horse. In addition the group focuses on the genomics of exercise physiology and circadian rhythms and performance in the thoroughbred horse.

Crop scienceInnovative input, technology research to improve yield and quality in crop production systems which is closely aligned and funded by industry and Enterprise Ireland.

Animal and Crop Science


CoLLAboRATionSAnimal and Crop Science researchers have a broad range of collaborators across Ireland and the world. This collaborating network is key for development of multi-disciplinary research programmes, listed below are a sample of industry, national and international collaborators.

Industry: National:

Adisseo NUI MaynoothAlltech DAFMBioatlantis TeagascBoortmalt Trinity College DublinICBF University of LimerickIGFA International:Odlums AFBISamco manufacturing ChariteSheep Ireland INRAUniblock Michigan State University Pennsylvania State University Purdue University Roslin Institute University of Liverpool University of Oxford University of Technology and Life Science in Bydgoszcz University of Wisconsin University of São Paulo Wageningen University

ReSeARCh FUnDing The research within the Animal and Crop Sciences section is funded from a range of National agencies, European agencies and Industry. Key funders include: Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine, Enterprise Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency, Irish Research Council, Teagasc, Science Foundation Ireland, Sustainable Energy Ireland and EU Framework Programme.

The major strength of the Animal and Crop Sciences group is that it encompasses a diversity of expertise to potentially address full-cycle research in agriculture and primary food production. The academic staff are highly research active, young and ambitious and have major funded-research programmes, often in conjunction with other academics either within the section, with other University staff, with external Irish-based researchers and/or with researchers in institutions in Northern Ireland and/or overseas. Research performance is monitored through peer reviewed publications, patents, post graduate education and training and industry links. Our research programmes are integral in delivering world class modules to the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the School.

UCD RePRoDUCTive bioLogy ReSeARCh CLUSTeRThe UCD Reproductive Biology Research Cluster is a research initiative between UCD and Teagasc to investigate solutions to reproductive problems in cattle. The Reproductive Biology Research Cluster comprises members from agriculture, veterinary medical and basic science disciplines and is supported by an extensive research farm and world class centre for biomolecular and biomedical research (the Conway Institute).

innovATionThe Animal and Crop Science section has an active innovation programme with the focus to maximise the impact of research and innovation to benefit the Irish Agri-food industry, the wider economy and society. There are a number of staff involved in the Campus Company Development Programme through which a number of research companies have developed Equilume, SireStore Ltd., Crop Research Ltd. and Equinome.

equinome Equinome was established in 2009 as a result of ground-breaking research led by company founder, Dr. Emmeline Hill. This research made the first know identification of a gene contributing to a specific athletic trait in thoroughbred horses. The research programme, which started in 2004 and was funded by a Science Foundation Ireland President of Ireland Young Researcher Award, was the first to apply novel genetic technologies to identify genetic contributions to racing performance in Thoroughbreds. Equinome now provides an accurate, secure and strictly confidential genetic testing service to the global bloodstock industry. All tests are founded in peer-reviewed science and are carried out using propriety Equinome technology in UCD. Dr. Hill has recently been awarded €1.8m from SFI to catalogue the genes that contribute to elite physiological performance in the Thoroughbred horse.

Key FeATUReS• UCD Lyons Research Farm underpins the Animal

and Crop Scientists and enables a multidisciplinary approach to research and development of sustainable food production

• Our researchers are young, ambitious and driven

• We have a strong focus on innovation and commercialisation

• Our industry links are integral in technology transfer of research outputs


Animal and Crop ScienceUCD School of Agriculture and Food ScienceUCD Agriculture and Food Science Centre, UCD, Belfield, Dublin 4Phone: + 353 1 716 7771email: [email protected]: www.ucd.ie/agfood

ucdagfood @ucdagfood

Every attempt has been made to ensure that the information contained within this booklet is correct at the time of going to press, however UCD accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions. New programmes are continually being introduced and existing programmes revised and therefore readers are advised to contact the UCD Agriculture & Food Science Programme Office for up to date programme details.


Agribusiness and Rural Development


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ReSeARCh ThemeSThe Agribusiness and Rural Development Section maintains a diverse research programme involving 12 academic staff and over 20 postgraduate students. Research activities of the group are organised into three core themes:

Food Chain economics and managementResearch within this theme seeks to advance the economic management and performance of the food chain in a manner that is environmentally sustainable and responsive to consumers’ and society’s needs. Key research areas within the theme include:

• Farm systems analysis and modelling

• Food, agricultural and trade policy analysis

• Food processing, supply chain and marketing analysis

Rural DevelopmentThe Rural Development research programme aims to contribute knowledge for decisions on policies and programmes in rural and agricultural development through a better understanding of the processes and factors that impact on community and farm-based decision-making and practice. Key research areas within the theme include:

• Social and human capital, innovation and knowledge transfer

• Policy impact and rural livelihoods analysis

• Multifunctionality in agriculture and rural development

humanitarian ActionResearch within the humanitarian action theme focuses on deepening understanding of contemporary humanitarian challenges in order to promote evidence-based humanitarian response. Key research areas within the theme include:

• Displacement due to man-made and natural disasters

• Water security and conflict resolution

• Governance and management of humanitarian action

ReSeARCh ACTiviTyFood Chain economics and management

• Development of farming systems models to analyse institutional and technical change at farm level

• Modelling greenhouse gas emissions from Irish agriculture and analysis of abatement policies and strategies

• Economic appraisal of bioenergy crops in Ireland

• Analysis of productivity and efficiency of Irish farms

• Development of a dairy industry model to analyse production seasonality and dairy co-operative strategies

• Innovation in agri-food supply chains

• Evaluation of agri-environmental policy

• Economic analysis of agri-food supply chains from crop and animal production through to retail pricing.

Rural Development• An assessment of distance learning and on-line/

electronic based teaching in agricultural training

• An examination of the uptake of profit monitor/financial tools by tillage farmers and advisers

• Young farmer innovation practices for agricultural and rural development

• Assessment of the impact of climate change on rural women’s livelihoods in Ghana

• The potential of social farming in Ireland : institutional challenges and opportunities

• Valuing social capital in rural development: challenges for EU policy

humanitarian Action• Climate change adaptation in disaster risk reduction

programmes – a case study of Plan Ireland’s projects in West Africa

• The role of disaster risk reduction governance in influencing livelihood strategies in areas of slow-onset environmental change

• The role of identity in intra-state river water conflicts – comparative study of select Indian cases

• Measuring humanitarian activity in Ireland and other EU member states.

• Managing volunteers in humanitarian action: the Irish Red Cross case

Agribusiness and Rural Development


UCD CenTRe FoR hUmAniTARiAn ACTionThe UCD Centre for Humanitarian Action (CHA) is a multi-disciplinary research and teaching platform focused on international humanitarian action: actions aimed at saving and preserving life, preventing and alleviating human suffering, and supporting life with dignity for those affected by man-made and natural disasters.

The CHA is based in the School of Agriculture and Food Science and also draws on the expertise of Schools and Institutes across UCD, including the School of Politics and International Relations (SPIRe), the School of Sociology, the Clinton Institute for American Studies, the School of Law, the School of Environmental Science, the School of Education and Lifelong Learning, and the School of Business. The CHA also has formal links with a network of universities worldwide through the NOHA network and with Makerere University, Uganda, Fordham University, USA, and Jadavpur University, India. The CHA has strong links with international organisations and agencies and non-governmental organisations including the International Committee of the Red Cross, Concern Worldwide, Plan Ireland, UNHCR, German Red Cross, Irish Aid, the Irish Red Cross, GOAL, Partnership in Learning, and Link Community Development.

The CHA’s mission is to enhance the professional delivery of humanitarian action through the provision of multi-disciplinary and internationally recognised research and education.

CollAboRATionSStaff of the Agribusiness and Rural Development Section have extensive research collaborations both within Ireland and internationally. Current linkages include:

Teagasc, Economic and Social Research Institute, University College Cork, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute Northern Ireland, Queen’s University Belfast, Scottish Rural University College, University of Missouri-Columbia, University of California-Davis, Kansas State University, Wageningen University, Network on Humanitarian Assistance (NOHA).

ReSeARCh FUnDingRecent research funding has been received from:

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Research Stimulus Fund), Teagasc Walsh Fellowships Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, EU FP 7, EU Erasmus Mundus, EU INTERREG, Irish Aid, Concern, Irish Red Cross.


Agribusiness and Rural DevelopmentUCD School of Agriculture and Food ScienceUCD Agriculture and Food Science Centre, UCD, Belfield, Dublin 4Phone: +353 1 716 7766email: [email protected]: www.ucd.ie/agfood




Environment and Sustainable Resource Management


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OVERVIEWAgriculture and other primary production systems are critically dependent upon a sound scientific understanding of the natural processes that intimately influence, and are influenced by the quality of an increasingly challenged natural environment. In this context, it has been stated, “The challenges facing agriculture to-day are unlike anything we have experienced before and they require revolutionary approaches to solving food production and sustainability problems” 1#. It is therefore essential that a strong understanding and emphasis on sustainable management of natural resources underpin production systems.

Key in this regard, is the development of management practice that maximises the quality of produce, whilst meeting the need for effective environmental protection and conservation of the natural world. In addition to elucidating the scientific principles underpinning high quality, sustainable production systems, there is need for translation and incorporation of developed knowledge into informed and effective Agri-Environmental policy.

The range of disciplines necessary to achieve these goals is lengthy, ranging from the fundamental abiotic and biotic sciences, to production specialisms and policy development. Research within the Environment and Sustainable Resource Management Section is therefore characterised by its strongly applied systems-focus, with a strong emphasis on inter-disciplinarity and knowledge integration.

Key objectives of our research• To understand interactions between land use systems

and the wider environment

• To develop sustainable land use systems and management practices

• To inform the development of agri-environmental, forestry, horticulture and related policy

Priority research areas• Sustainable land use and policy

• Utilisation and protection of biological resources

• Management of nutrients, carbon and soils

1 # Nature 478; 337-342

Staff have key competencies in:Agri-environment: habitats and biodiversity in the farmed landscape, pest & disease management, wildlife conservation & the management of epizoonoses, soil ecology, agricultural nutrient management.

Horticulture: horticultural taxonomy, plant material and land use, sports turf construction and management, and composting of organic by-products as peat replacement, optimisation of horticultural crop production.

Sustainable Forest Management: modelling, GIS, decision support systems, carbon estimations, nutrient sustainability, tree breeding, socio-economics.

Impact Assessment: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), Appropriate Assessment under EU Birds & Habitats Directives.

RESEARCh ACtIVItyAgri-environment Major current research activities in the agri-environment area include a national monitoring effort of ambient atmospheric ammonia (http://www.ucd.ie/ammonia), the characterisation of soil biodiversity in the EU in the EcoFinders project (http://ecofinders.dmu.dk) and the SmartGrass project that assesses the production potential of multi-species grasslands in Ireland and their agronomic, ecological and economic implications.

ForestryIn forestry, current research activities include projects on: the impact of man-made and natural disturbances on the greenhouse gas balances in Irish forests; the development of integrated, landscape level forest management planning tools and policies for Europe; the quantification of ecosystem goods and services provided to society and forest owners by a range of silvicultural and forest management systems; the development of sustainable and technically-feasible solutions to the problems associated with increased wood mobilisation in Europe; and tree improvement to increase the growth and quality of forest trees grown in Ireland.

horticultureIn horticulture, current research is focussing on microbial population dynamics of composted organic materials, the evaluation of composted materials as possible bio-control agents for plant diseases, and on the development of novel peat reduced or peat free plant growing media. Other research concerns horticultural plant use in landscapes and urban food production.

Environment and Sustainable Resource Management


In the agri-environment area, we are involved in major projects on farmland biodiversity (SmartGrass, Agri-Baseline, Ag-Biota), soil biodiversity and ecosystem functions (EcoFinders), and Strategic Environmental Assessment.

In forestry, our major research projects address carbon sequestration (CarbiFor 1 & 2, CForRep), Forest nutrient sustainability (ForSite), Decision Support Systems (PractiSFM 1 & 2), forest genetics (FORGEN), scanning technology (ForestScan), geospatial forecasts of timber supply (FOECAST) and integrated forest landscape management in Europe (INTEGRAL).

We participate in horticultural research projects on alternative ingredients from waste streams in peat reduced growing media and on urban food production.

COllAbORAtIOnSWe collaborate with other UCD schools on multi-disciplinary projects, including the Schools of Archaeology; Biosystems Engineering; Biology and Environmental Science; Computer Sciences; Geological Sciences; Politics and International Relations. Internationally, we are partnered with many European institutions through EU Framework Programme 7 projects and through research networks such as the European Forestry Institute (Finland), InnovaWood (Brussels) and the Erasmus Networks Project “Innovation in the Teaching of Sustainable Development in Life Sciences in Europe”. We have long-standing collaborations with other research organisation overseas including Trent University (Canada).

RESEARCh FUnDIng Our major national research projects are funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (COFORD and STIMULUS programmes), the Environmental Protection Agency (STRIVE programme), The Irish Research Council (formerly IRCSET), TEAGASC (Walsh Fellowships) and industry sources including Bord na Móna. Our international projects attracted funding under EU Framework Programmes 6 and 7 (AE-Footprint, INTEGRAL, EcoFinders), the Marie Curie Fellowships, the European Space Agency (GSFM), COST Action (Biogreenhouse), and by the World Agroforestry Centre / Irish Aid.

InnOVAtIOnOur research into various aspects of the agricultural and forestry environment informs policy innovation and development in Ireland and the EU.

In horticulture, we provide research and quality assessment resources to the industry for the development of “GrowWise” peat reduced and peat free plant growing media. The intention to impose legislation in England and Wales, by 2015, to prohibit the sale or supply of peat based plant growing media and other peat based horticulture products would negatively impact on the peat based plant growing media and mushroom industries in Ireland. Mushroom exports (€100m) to Great Britain account for more than 75% of production, and sales of peat based plant growing media to this market is in excess of €45m.

KEy FEAtURESWe have staff with a unique combination of expertise in a wide range of key agri-environment, forestry and horticulture areas. The integration of this expertise enables us to understand interactions between land use systems and the wider environment. Over recent years, the Environment and Sustainable Resource Management Section has developed in-depth expertise in interdisciplinary systems-focused research through a number of large, team-based projects funded from national and international sources. We have developed and maintain excellent cooperation with industry, research and policy partners, both in Ireland and abroad. By retaining our focus on practical aspects of production agriculture, forestry and horticulture, our research into sustainable land use systems is highly relevant to the current and future emphasis of CAP reform, FoodHarvest 2020, and timber and bioenergy production goals. The range, focus and strongly integrated nature of our research enables us to make a unique contribution to addressing pressing sustainability issues, and the development of evidence-based policy in agri-environment, forestry, horticulture and related areas.


Environment and Sustainable Resource ManagementUCD School of Agriculture and Food ScienceUCD Agriculture and Food Science Centre, UCD, Belfield, Dublin 4Phone: + 353 1 716 7726Email: [email protected]: www.ucd.ie/agfood




Food Science and Nutrition


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OVERVIEWThe research themes of the Food Science and Nutrition section are strategically aligned with the research priorities of UCD’s Institute of Food and Health (this virtual Institute co-ordinates all UCD’s Food and Health activities). These themes are substantiated by significant research income and outputs. Currently the group comprises 12 PIs, 30 contract research staff, 26 postgraduates and the team has secured ~16.8 million in funding from 2007 to date. UCD is ranked in the top 10 globally and top 5 in Europe based on both citations and impact of their publication in Food and Technology.

The key objectives are to perform cutting edge research in the following themes:

Processing for safe and healthy foodsResearch is focused on exploring alternatives to traditional food preservation methods with a view to enhancing the microbial safety and nutritive value of food.

Functional food ingredientsResearch encompasses the identification, incorporation and evaluation of bioactive food ingredients.

Targeted/Personalised NutritionResearch is focused on assessing the link between diet and health and developing strategies for delivering personalised nutrition through use of nutrigenomics and in particular metabolomics.

ExAmPlES OF RESEARCh ACTIVITyFunctional Food IngredientsUCD lead the Food For Health Ireland (FHI) Research centre which is a multi-centred project established to determine how milk ingredients can be extracted and used to deliver health benefits for consumers. The groups also leads an Enterprise Ireland funded project to develop novel encapsulation techniques for sensitive food ingredients.

Targeted/Personalised NutritionUCD are leading partners in the National Nutrition Phenotype Database (JINGO) which has created an extensive Database including Nutrigenomic and dietary data that is allowing researchers to be at the forefront of assessing the link between diet and health.

UCD lead a workpackage in the FP7 project NutriTech which examines novel biomarkers of dietary intake. UCD coordinate the FP7 project Food4me which assess all aspects of personalised nutrition.

Processing for safe and healthy foodsThe Nutrimeat project focuses on the development and consumer acceptability of healthy processed meats (low fat, low salt products with elevated levels of approved bioactives)

BabySafe is an FP7 funded project focusing on the development of a light-based technology for the decontamination of powdered infant formula and aspires to contributing to a more competitive European infant formula sector.

Food Science and Nutrition


COllAbORATIONSResearchers within the Food and Nutrition theme have a broad range of collaborators across Ireland and Europe. This collaborating network is key for development of multi-disciplinary research programmes.

Examples of International Institutions which have active collaborations with the researchers are:

• University of Catania, Spain

• Technical University of Munich, Germany

• University of Maastricht, Netherlands

• TNO, Netherlands

• Wageningen University, Netherlands

• INRAN, Italy

• University of Salerno, Italy

• INRA, France

• ANSES, France

• University of Reading, UK

• University of Newcastle, UK

• University of Ulster Coleraine, UK

• Imperial College London, UK

• Danish Meat Research Institute, Denmark

• University of Alberta, Canada

• University of California, Davis, US

RESEARCh FUNDINgThe research within the Food and Nutrition theme is funded from a range of National agencies, European agencies and Industry. Key funders include: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Enterprise Ireland, FP7, Health Research Board.

Food For health IrelandUCD is the lead Institution for Food for Health Ireland. It is a €19 m industry led research centre that aims to determine how milk ingredients can be extracted and used to deliver health benefits for consumers.

Institute of Food and healthThe research of the Food and Nutrition theme is aligned with the research strategy for the Institute of Food and Health. The Institute is UCD’s leading Institute for integrating food and health research.

INNOVATIONThe group hold a number of patents. Recently a patent for a novel snack product was licensed to Largo foods. The team has worked with a number of food companies and successfully developed new food formulations based on a scientific understanding of ingredient functionality.

KEy FEATURES• Ranked in the 10 globally and top 5 in Europe based

on citations and impact of research publications in “Food Science and Technology” for 2008-2012.

• We are young, progressive, ambitious, innovative and integrated across disciplines

• We have strong collaborations with Industry and research is commercially relevant

• We take an entrepreneurial approach, adding value, creating intellectual property and enabling job creation


Food Science and NutritionUCD School of Agriculture and Food ScienceUCD Agriculture and Food Science Centre, UCD, Belfield, Dublin 4Phone: +353 1 716 2846Email: [email protected]: www.ucd.ie/agfood




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