An NUI Galway and Teagasc ‘Strategic Research and Training Alliance on Carbon-Neutral Agriculture’ will target cuts in greenhouse gas emissions from milk and meat production.

Secondary and third level students will gain insights into careers in food science, research and nutrition at a series of one-day science fairs hosted by Teagasc, Smart Futures and SciFest.

Education will be central to ensuring farmers adapt to new technologies and management systems, say the authors of a Teagasc report.

International research collaboration is vital to help scientists achieve global food security and combat climate change, say the hosts of yesterday’s Greenhouse Gases and Animal Agriculture conference in University College Dublin.

Farm households will be among the main groups to gain jobs under the new commission for the economic development of rural areas, according to one Teagasc executive.

The Olympic Games chewed 1500m runner Ciarán Ó Lionáird up and then spat him out in unceremonious fashion in London last night and left him questioning his future in the sport.

Ireland is at the forefront of a UN-led partnership to harmonise how the environmental performance of livestock is measured.

Ciarán Ó Lionaird hopes to get Olympic year off to a flying start at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston on Saturday.

THE first thing that hits you whenever Ger Hartmann is in the room is the energy.

THERE was a larger than usual attendance for the early morning start of the AVIVA Irish Schools Track and Field Championships at Tullamore on Saturday when star racewalker, Kate Veale (St. Augustine’s, Dungarvan), made her first appearance on home soil since winning the bronze medal in the junior walk at the European Cup in the Algarve.

WELL done to Teagasc for highlighting the European Commission’s research findingsindicating the carbon footprint of Irish food products is amongst the best (the lowest) in the EU.

SHANE QUINN (De La Salle, Waterford) was an impressive winner of the senior boys’ title at the AVIVA Munster Schools cross-country championships at the CIT Campus, Bishopstown, yesterday.

IRISH food products have been rated as having a carbon footprint which is among the best in the EU.

IRELAND’S leading position in a technological revolution in dairy cattle breeding is a cause for celebration.

GENOMIC cattle tests costing just €50 could lead to a dramatic quality upgrade for the Irish herd, following a Teagasc breakthrough worth a collective €115 million a year to Irish farmers.

CIARA MAGEEAN will maintain her amazing momentum when she embarks on a busy indoor schedule that includes the Woodies DIY Irish senior championships at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast on February 19-29.

THE number of applicants for the Dairy Business degree programme, run by University College Dublin and Teagasc, has almost doubled this year, it was disclosed yesterday.

THE increase in points for all degree courses in the agri-food area confirms the growing confidence in the future of food production, according to Agricultural Science Association president Frank O’Mara.

TEAGASC has proposed 21 amendments to the draft nitrates regulations based on solid scientific research.

A BRILLIANT day of athletics was illuminated by electrifying performances from two of Ireland’s brightest young talents, Ciara Mageean (Assumption, Ballinahinch) and Siofra Cleirigh Buttner (Coláiste Iosagain), at the Woodies DIY Irish Schools Championships in Tullamore on Saturday.

FARMERS losing out since the beef quality payment system (QPS) price grid was introduced are those selling very fat animals of all grades, such as fat grades four plus and five, according to Teagasc director of research Dr Frank O’Mara.

THE country’s most exciting young middle distance running talent compete in the All-Ireland Schools’ Cross-Country championship at the Cork IT campus today (noon).

FURTHER payment grid changes are in store for cattle farmers, with the classification of young bulls expected to change from under 24 months of age to between 16 months and 18 months, when prime bull beef is brought into the quality payment grid system.

AN increasing number of students are relishing the prospects of joining the agriculture and food industry which has been identified as part of the smart economy.

THE dramatic increase in demand for agricultural education courses should not be ignored by the Government in the budget, according to the president of the Agricultural Science Association (ASA), Dr Frank O’Mara.

AGRICULTURAL science graduates feeling the chill wind of the recession have the opportunity to explore how they can broaden their horizons, and expand their job prospects, at a forum organised by the Agricultural Science Association (ASA), in University College Dublin, on Thursday, November 26.

MICHAEL CARMODY (Castletroy College, Limerick) led all the way to win the senior boys title at the Munster Schools Cross-Country Championships at Tramore Racecourse yesterday, when the lack of teacher cover due to the cutbacks was reflected in much smaller entries.

BRIAN GREGAN (St Mark’s, Tallaght) added his name to Patsy McGonagle’s 4 x 400m relay squad when he smashed the record with a run of 47.49 seconds at the Leinster Schools championships at Morton Stadium.

MARK CARROLL has been appointed the US Athlete Manager for Athletics Ireland.

REDUCING animal numbers and changing systems of production will lead to a significant drop in greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, a leading scientist declared yesterday.

DERVAL O’ROURKE left for Zurich’s Weltklasse yesterday, following a path that has been well worn by the likes of Eamonn Coghlan, Ray Flynn, Marcus O’Sullivan, Frank O’Mara, Mark Carroll and Sonia O’Sullivan.

ALISTAIR CRAGG has endured 12 months of injury and illness since he won the European indoor title over 3,000 metres in Madrid but, half a continent away from his greatest success, he showed in Moscow yesterday he was back to something approaching his best.

Twenty years ago tonight, four Irish athletes came home for a charity race that changed their lives - and set a record that still stands today. Simon Lewis reflects.

IRISH Junior 1500 metres record holder Colin Costello is to take up a scholarship at University of Arkansas, the number-one ranked US track and field college.

John McDonnell, the Mayo man who has already coached four Irish middle distance Olympians, believes Johannesburg-born Alistair Cragg could be the surprise package for Ireland in tonight’s 5000m heats (5.50pm, Irish time).