Farmers will profit from biotechnology

DEVELOPMENTS in biotechnology have the potential to benefit Irish farmers by up to €250m annually within the next 20 years, according to Professor Jimmy Burke, head of Teagasc’s Crops Research Centre in Oak Park.

Prof Burke was speaking yesterday at the opening of the new Crops Bioscience facility by the Agriculture Minister, Mary Coughlan.

The new facility includes a computer-controlled sealed laboratory and glasshouse complex. Professor Burke predicted that using new technology scientists can improve yield, disease resistance, nutritional content.