Teagasc opens new research and innovation centre at Johnstown Castle

The new laboratories at NASRIC will further support research in water quality, soil health, greenhouse gas emissions, carbon farming, nutrient efficiency and farmland biodiversity

(Left to right): Dr David Wall, head of enterprise at Teagasc Johnstown Castle; Liam Herlihy, chair of the Teagasc Authority; Professor Frank O’Mara, Teagasc director; Martin Heydon, minister for agriculture, food and the marine; and Dr Karen Daly, head of Department, Environment, Soils and Land Use.

The new National Agricultural Sustainability Research and Innovation Centre (NASRIC) at Johnstown Castle was officially opened on Friday.

Set within Johnstown Castle campus in Co Wexford, the 2000 square metre state-of-the-art labs opened on November 14, represent a significant national investment of €12.7m.

Building on decades of research conducted at Teagasc, Johnstown Castle, the new laboratories at NASRIC will further support research excellence in water quality, soil health, greenhouse gas emissions, carbon farming, nutrient efficiency and farmland biodiversity to provide tools and actions for sustainability on Irish farms.

Speaking at the opening, minister Martin Heydon said: “The investment in this facility at Teagasc demonstrates Ireland’s leadership in science-based solutions for sustainable agriculture. The work carried out here will be critical in helping our farmers produce high-quality food while protecting our natural resources and meeting climate targets.” 

Teagasc director, Professor Frank O’Mara, highlighted the importance of this new facility at Teagasc: “These facilities will expand capacity in research and innovation at Teagasc and enhance the Teagasc Climate Centre’s research and innovation activities in support of meeting sectoral targets around climate and biodiversity.” 

Jessyca DeMedeiros of the Environment, Soils and Land Use Department at Teagasc Johnstown Castle addresses minister Martin Heydon during his guided tour of the 2,000 m² state-of-the-art laboratories on the Johnstown Castle campus.

Head of enterprise at Teagasc Johnstown Castle, Dr David Wall, emphasised that the research outputs from Teagasc Johnstown Castle are critical to support farmers and the agricultural industry to enhance the resilience of their soils and production systems while protecting the environment.

The new research laboratories and the analytical instruments within them are being used by the researchers to identify solutions to many challenges and to develop technologies and practices being adopted on farms now and in the future.