Proposals sought under Ireland and NZ joint research initiative
The next phase of the Ireland and New Zealand Agriculture Climate Joint Research and Technology Initiative has today (Tuesday, June 30) opened for proposals.
The research programme is a collaboration between the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries.
This latest call for proposals forms part of the second phase of the partnership, which began originally in 2022.
Up to €6 million in combined funding will be provided for collaborative research projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from pasture-based livestock systems, while maintaining productivity, profitability and resilience at farm level.
Research
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon said that Ireland and New Zealand have a "long-standing partnership in agricultural research".
"Through the first phase of this initiative, my department, along with the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries, awarded nearly €20 million in funding for collaborative research in climate and agriculture.
"This is demonstrating significant value not only in terms of research advancements, but also in bringing our researchers closer together and sharing best-practice, expertise and training opportunities," he said.
The new call for proposals is now open, and applications must be submitted through the DAFM's online application system by September 30, 2026.
Documents and further information, including details of applicant briefing sessions, will be available through the department’s research programme website.
Evolution
The 2026 joint research call adopts a "mission-orientated approach" focussed on the cumulative impacts and interactions of GHG mitigation measures in dairy and beef production systems.
Minister of State at DAFM with special responsibility for research and innovation, Noel Grealish, believes the call for proposals "represents an important evolution in our research approach".
"Rather than examining individual mitigation measures in isolation, we are seeking research that assesses how multiple measures can work together within real farming systems, over production cycles.
"The objective is to generate the evidence, tools, technologies and management strategies needed to support farmers in reducing emissions while maintaining productive and economically viable dairy and beef farms," he said.
Partnership
Projects funded under the call must demonstrate "clear added value from collaboration between both countries and deliver practical outcomes"
Commenting on the launch, New Zealand Minister of Agriculture Todd McClay said:
"New Zealand is proud to continue its support of vital agricultural climate research to get tools and options to farmers to tackle agricultural emissions without reducing productivity.
"This joint research will contribute directly to greenhouse gas mitigation at farm level and, where possible, deliver co-benefits including improving water quality, soil health, biodiversity, and overall farm sustainability.
"Our work together will drive better environmental outcomes for Ireland and New Zealand and help farmers to continue to produce the food that the world needs."
