Researchers at Queen's University Belfast are set to play a key role in advancing innovation across the agrifood, environmental and bioeconomy sectors following the announcement of a significant €37.5m research investment by the Irish government.
The funding package, announced by agriculture minister Martin Heydon and minister of state for research and development Noel Grealish, will support 30 pioneering research projects across 19 institutions throughout the island of Ireland.
Pressing challenges
The programme will focus on some of the most pressing challenges facing the agrifood and environmental sectors, including climate resilience, biodiversity, animal health and welfare, sustainable food systems, water quality, farm safety and bioeconomy innovation.
The announcement also reinforces the importance of north-south collaboration in research and innovation, with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs providing €3.1m in co-funding to support Northern Ireland participation in six collaborative projects.
Professor Sharon Huws, interim director of the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen's, said: “This significant investment reflects the growing importance of collaborative, cross-border research in addressing the complex challenges facing our agri-food and environmental sectors.
“By bringing together expertise from across the island of Ireland, these projects will help accelerate innovation in areas such as climate resilience, animal health, sustainable food production and the bioeconomy. At Queen’s, we are proud to contribute world-leading research that delivers practical impact for farmers, industry, policymakers and society as a whole.”
Professor Gary Hardiman, director of research, School of Biological Sciences at Queen's, said: “This funding announcement highlights the strength of the research ecosystem that exists across these islands and the value of sustained investment in scientific collaboration.
"The projects supported through this programme will help generate new knowledge and technologies to support more sustainable, resilient and competitive agrifood systems, while also creating valuable opportunities for postgraduate researchers and early-career scientists. Queen’s researchers are committed to delivering impactful research that supports both economic growth and environmental stewardship.”
Andrew Muir, minister for agriculture, environment, and rural affairs of Northern Ireland, said: “The Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine 2025 Competitive Call demonstrates the strength and value of the long-standing partnership between the Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs of Northern Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, which since 2015 has enabled Northern Ireland scientists to collaborate in high quality, all-island research addressing shared challenges and opportunities.
Sustainable agriculture
"The projects being launched today reflect our shared commitment to science that is innovative, collaborative and impactful science that informs policy, supports innovation, and delivers real benefits for sustainable agriculture, environmental protection, and rural communities. Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs is proud to co fund this programme and to work closely with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine to maximise the return on public investment and build the scientific capability needed to meet current and future priorities.”
The funded projects span a broad range of priorities, including methane reduction in livestock systems, antimicrobial resistance, sustainable packaging technologies, healthy ageing and advanced disease surveillance.
The programme will also support the training of more than 90 postgraduate researchers and more than 60 contract researchers, helping to strengthen future scientific capability across the sector.
Researchers from Queen's University Belfast continue to work closely with partners across academia, government and industry to deliver evidence-based solutions that support resilient food systems, sustainable agriculture and environmental protection.
The investment was announced as part of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s 2025 Thematic Research Call.