Organisation
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) (
www.agriculture.gov.ie) is the Competent Authority for agricultural policy in Ireland. Primary responsibility for Agriculture and Food research is vested by Government in Teagasc (
www.teagasc.ie), the Irish National Agriculture and Food Development Authority. Agriculture and Food Research is also carried out in the Third Level Institutions.
The policy priority is to support a sustainable, competitive, multifunctional Agriculture, Food, Marine and Forestry sectors, while also maintaining the maximum number of family farms in rural areas. The research priorities, therefore, are centred on providing a strong scientific foundation and knowledge base to underpin the sector.
Agri-Food Research Infrastructure
1.
Department of Agriculture and Food
DAFM is the primary funding agency for agri-food research through core funding provided to Teagasc and also through public good, competitive research programmes in Agriculture, Food and Forestry research.
2.
Teagasc
Teagasc research is carried out at six research centres which are strategically located around the country. Research programmes are carried out in (i) Animal and Grassland, (ii) Food, (iii) Crops, Environment and Landuse, and (iv) Rural Economy and Development.
3. Third-Level Institutions
Agri-Food Research is also carried out in the Universities and Institutes of
Technology. The following Institutions carry out various aspects of Agri-Food
Research. An example of the type of research is given with a link to the web
page..
- National University of Ireland, Dublin -
All aspects of Agricultural, Veterinary, Food and Environmental Sciences
-
National University of Ireland, Cork - Food Science Research
- Trinity College Dublin - Nutrition research
- University of Limerick - Food Technology
- Dublin City University - Sensory Technology
- National University of Ireland, Galway - Diagnostics and Cereal Research
- National University of Ireland, Maynooth
– Plant Biotechnology
- A number of Institutes of Technology carry out aspects of agriculture and food
research and are linked through a research network,
Ioti
4.
Marine Institute
The Marine Institute operates a range of Research and Development Facilities for Marine Research including Sea Food research around Ireland and her coastline.
Agencies Involved in National RTD Support
Ireland 
