UCD opens €5m environmental research facility at Belfield campus

UNIVERSITY College Dublin has opened Rosemount Environmental Research Station, a €5m new research facility at its Belfield campus.

Formally launched yesterday by Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney, the research disciplines will include plant biology, plant biotechnology, horticulture, agriculture and environmental and evolutionary biology.

Mr Coveney said: “The excellent research facilities and highly skilled staff working at this new station will further assist the development of the agri-food sector here in Ireland, while also strengthening UCD’s position in attracting future funding in the area.”

Minster Coveney added that the Research Stimulus Fund has awarded €4.2m over the past five years to researchers at the station working in the area of biological control of plant diseases, low input crop systems and novel methods of pest management.

He wished the UCD scientists continued success in securing research funding from EU and international sources.

The minister said: “The ability of the agri-food sector to remain competitive ultimately depends on its ability to rapidly adopt new technological innovations across a broad range of areas.

“Improvements in productivity, efficiency and sustainability will provide the basis to deliver on a number of recommendations and targets outlined in Food Harvest 2020 report.”