New €70 Million Research Centers Established for Climate Change and Sustainable Food Production
Two groundbreaking research “co-centres” focusing on climate change and sustainable food production are set to be established across the island of Ireland, with a total cost of €70 million.
Research Centre on Climate Change and Biodiversity
One of these research centers will concentrate on climate, biodiversity, and water, aiming to develop strategies and solutions to combat these pressing challenges collectively.
Research Centre on Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems
The other research center will be dedicated to researching sustainable and resilient food systems, aiming to find innovative and practical ways to address the growing concerns around food production.
These co-centres, bringing together academics, industry experts, and policymakers from the Irish Government, UK government, and Northern Ireland government, will begin operations in January.
Trinity College Dublin to Lead the Climate+ Co-Centre
Trinity College Dublin will act as the headquarters for the Climate+ Co-Centre, with an allocated budget of €41.3 million. This center will focus on research, innovation, and policy development in addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and water degradation across Ireland and Britain.
The Climate+ Co-Centre will collaborate with several research institutions, including Dublin City University, to ensure a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to addressing climate-related issues.
Funding and Collaborative Efforts
This ambitious six-year program is funded through various sources: Science Foundation Ireland, in collaboration with the Department of Further, Higher Education, Research, Innovation, and Science and the Irish Government’s Shared Island Fund, will contribute up to €40 million. Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs will provide up to £17 million (€19 million), and UK Research and Innovation will contribute up to £12 million, with co-funding from industry.
A Promising Step Towards Addressing Climate Change
The announcement of these research centers was made by Simon Harris, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation, and Science, and Michelle Donelan, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, during bilateral discussions held at Farmleigh House in Dublin. Both emphasized that addressing climate change and achieving sustainable and resilient food systems require a coordinated and concerted effort.
Simon Harris expressed his satisfaction with the investment, stating, “This investment in two new collaborative research centers is a major development in addressing these pressing issues in a coordinated and concerted way.”
Fostering Collaboration and Global Solutions
Michelle Donelan emphasized the shared challenges faced by the UK and Ireland and their determination to work together on science and technology. She stated, “By bringing together the genius that exists across our islands, we will unlock the new ideas and inventions that will help us secure our food chains and tackle climate change, delivering innovative solutions for global good.”
The establishment of these new research centers marks a significant step towards addressing the pressing issues of climate change and sustainable food production, promoting collaboration, and finding innovative solutions to secure a sustainable future for all.