Construction begins on Moorepark's new sustainable agriculture centre
From left: Jim Bergin, chair of FBD Holdings; Liam Herlihy, Teagasc chairman; Pat Murphy, chair of Farmer Business Developments; agriculture minister Martin Heydon; Professor Frank O'Mara, Teagasc director; Ella Walshe; Tomás Ó Midheach, chief executive of FBD Holdings; and Michael Berkery, chairman FBD Trust. Picture: O'Gorman Photography
Construction has begun on the Padraig Walshe Centre for Sustainable Animal and Grassland Research at Moorepark.
A €6m contribution made by FBD Holdings, FBD Trust, and Farmer Business Developments, matched by €6m funding provided by the Department of Agriculture, will support the development of the new centre, which will be named in honour of the late Padraig Walshe.
The new centre will provide state-of-the-art laboratory and animal metabolism facilities to support research aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient losses from grassland-based livestock systems, enhancing the environmental sustainability and competitiveness of Ireland’s agri-food sector.
With construction now under way, Teagasc will work closely with the contractors and stakeholders to develop new facilities that can translate research into practical solutions for farmers, industry and policy makers.
Agriculture minister Martin Heydon said: “I welcome the start of construction at Moorepark and thank FBD and its partners for their significant support for public sector research. This facility will strengthen Ireland’s capacity to develop and deliver practical solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient losses while protecting farm incomes and competitiveness.
"The work here will be central to meeting our climate and water quality objectives and to ensuring a sustainable future for our agri-food sector.”
Chairman of FBD Trust Michael Berkery, said: “FBD Trust is delighted to support Teagasc in this venture. The research at Moorepark aligns with the trust’s objectives to advance the interests of Irish farm families and the wider farming sector, delivering practical benefits for sustainable farming. We look forward to seeing the benefits flow to rural communities.”
Chairman of Farmer Business Developments Pat Murphy, said: “We are pleased to support the centre and proud that it will bear the name of our late colleague Padraig Walshe. Padraig was a pioneering grass-based dairy farmer who championed innovation and research. It is fitting that this facility will carry forward that legacy.”
Teagasc director, Professor Frank O’Mara, said: “The start of construction at Moorepark is an important milestone. The new laboratory and animal metabolism facilities will allow Teagasc to undertake the mechanistic, in-depth research needed to develop solutions that are suitable for widespread adoption in grass-based systems.
"This new centre creates the capacity for mission-critical studies that will deliver tangible benefits to farmers, industry and policy makers, helping to reduce emissions, improve nutrient efficiency and productivity and support a competitive and sustainable agri-food sector in Ireland.”
