“Farmers voices must be heard as new research centre on food system integrity is announced” - TD

Independent TD for Laois Offaly Carol Nolan has said she welcomes the announcement of €70 million in joint funding to create two new research centres: the Co-Centre for Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems and the Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity and Water.

The announcement was made by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris and Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Michelle Donelan and Permanent Secretary at Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Katrina Godfrey.

However, Deputy Nolan went on to state that research from the Co-Centre for Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems which will involve ‘transformative solutions to transition the food system for positive and sustainable change in the transition to climate-neutrality by 2050’ must place the experience and expertise of farmers and producers at the core of its work.

In a statement issued by Minister Harris, it was made clear that the work of the Co-Centre for Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems will seek to address specific challenges centred around food system integrity and resilience, food safety and healthy diets from sustainable sources:

“As a member of the Oireachtas Committee Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, I welcome any funding that will position Ireland as a global leader in food security and food safety research,” said Deputy Nolan.

“But as a rural TD I am also concerned to emphasise that the research process must be open to actually listening to farmers and producers around what it takes to maintain food security in the real world. It must work with them and not seek to impose academic models on them.”

“There is plenty of theory out there round what farmers and producers should be doing but very often this is not balanced by the vitally important perspective of farmers who have generational knowledge of food production in their blood, for want of a better word.”

“My hope is that any research on how Ireland and Irish agriculture must transition to new food production models would bear that mind,” concluded Deputy Nolan.

Welcoming the announcement today, (Tuesday) Minister Harris, said: “Addressing climate change and achieving sustainable and resilient food systems are intertwined challenges facing us all. This investment in two new collaborative research centres is a major development in addressing these pressing issues in a coordinated and concerted way.

“I’m delighted to see the very best minds and methods being brought together to create a dynamic research network across Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain.”

UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Michelle Donelan said: “As I know from my own family links, UK and Ireland share deep ties and in today’s fast-moving world, we share many of the same challenges, too.

“From our groundbreaking international work on AI, to our deal to join Horizon, the UK is determined to seize the opportunities for growth and prosperity that can be delivered, when we work together on science and tech with our neighbours.

“By bringing together the genius that exists across our islands, we will unlock the new ideas and inventions that will help us secure our food chains and tackle climate change, delivering innovative solutions for global good.”

The two new Co-Centres will formally commence activities on January 1 2024 and will be funded to 2030.