The word ‘sustainability’ is often used nowadays to capture complex scenarios of how we farm and produce food with the planet's resources.

But what does sustainability mean to the individual farmers and farmworkers who work the land every day?

Researchers at the University of Galway’s Ryan Institute want to find out.

Sustainability is often presented as a three-legged stool, where balance can exist between environmental, economic and social aspects of farming.

While this can be very useful for conceptualising sustainability as a multi-dimensional and complex goal, the balance is difficult to achieve and much depends on individual farms and farmers.

Research

Funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, this research aims to explore how dairy farmers and workers themselves define sustainablility, where they place their trust for information, and how they navigate the trade-offs involved.

Researcher Dr. Noel Doyle said: “Farmers and farm workers make daily decisions that reflect real-world sustainability challenges.

"Our research is focused on capturing what sustainability means at the frontline of a complex food system.”

If you are a dairy farmer or farm worker, the research group invites you to complete an anonymous survey on your views on sustainable practices in the dairy sector.

Complete the short survey below and have the chance to win a €50 voucher.