What the Scientists Say

The challenge facing Irish dairy is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030. Achieving this goal will require a wide variety of different actions and initiatives. All of these things many of which are already being implemented on Irish farms are the result of scientific research and study in centres across Ireland.

The Science Behind Irish Dairy

The challenge facing Irish dairy is to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030. It’s a task that’s being taken very seriously by the dairy farming community.

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Dr Stafford Vigors

Stafford Vigors is an Assistant Professor of Animal Science and Microbiology in the School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Ireland. In this video, he talks about how we can affect the cow’s stomachs to reduce their emissions and improve their carbon hoofprint.
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Dr Karina Pierce

Karina Pierce is Professor of Dairy Production, Director of External Relations and Programme Director for the BAgrSc Dairy Business Programme in the School of Agriculture and Food Science at UCD. Karina believes that the environmental future of dairy is a positive one and talks about some of the research and development that is already making a difference.
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Dr Zoe McKay

Zoe McKay is an Assistant Professor of Grass and Forage Science and the Omnibus programme coordinator in the School of Agriculture and Food Science at UCD. Zoë discusses her work with different types of plants in the Irish pasture, reducing fertiliser use, reducing emissions and potentially improving quality and quantity of milk produced.
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Dr Tommy Boland

Tommy Boland is Professor of Ruminant Nutrition and Sheep Production (as well as the associate Dean of Research, Innovation and Impact) within the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science. Tommy’s video is about ‘sustainable pasture based livestock production systems’, which include reducing methane emissions and nitrogen loss and plant variety in the pasture.
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Dr Edel Kelly

Edel Kelly completed her PhD in 2014 and the focus of her research was Irish dairy farms and adoption of land management practices. Her research interests are specifically around technology adoption and innovation at farm level and the link between our science, our farms and our food.
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Dr Helen Sheridan

Helen graduated from the School of Agriculture and Food Science, UCD in 2001 and completed her PhD in agricultural ecology in 2005. Helen is director of the Agri-Environmental Sciences Degree Programme with the School of Agriculture and Food Science at UCD. Here, Helen talks about the use of multispecies pasture and its ecosystem potential, as well as potential for effect on biodiversity and water quality.