International scientists are preparing to gather next week for the 17th international RAMIRAN conference, which will be held in Wexford from September 4 to September 6.
‘Recycling of Agricultural, Municipal and Industrial Residues in Agriculture Network’ (RAMIRAN) is an international research and expertise network.
This network focuses on treatment technologies as well as agronomic and environmental issues relating to the use of organic residues across a diverse range of farming systems and environments.
The 17th international RAMIRAN conference is being hosted by Teagasc Crops, Environment and Land Use Programme, Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford. This is the first time that this world-leading biannual conference will be held in Ireland.
The Head of Teagasc’s Environmental Research programme Dr. Karl Richards commented on the event, saying: “It represents international recognition of the Irish contribution to research, knowledge transfer and implementation of technologies and strategies that are contributing to this important component of sustainable farming systems.
The conference’s focus will be on cutting-edge knowledge and will be focused on improving the efficiency of manure and organic residue management.
The theme of RAMIRAN 2017 is “Sustainable utilisation of manures and residue resources in agriculture”, and this will be explored during the conference.
Areas explored will include ‘Advances in technology’, ‘Crop Nutrition’, ‘Gaseous Emissions’, ‘Soil and Water Quality’ and ‘Adoption and Impact’, Teagasc has said.
The event includes a field trip to the Teagasc Soils, Environment and Land Use Research Centre at Johnstown Castle – which will include presentations and demonstrations of technologies to assess and improve water quality, greenhouse gas measurement systems, demonstration of slurry spreading equipment, and a new slurry storage gaseous emissions facility.
The trip, hosted by researchers, advisors and farmers, will highlight the latest results, Teagasc concluded.