Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for those comments. This is an exciting new development. That new centre for sustainable animal and grassland research will be an important project in reaching that 25% emissions reductions by 2030. With the challenges facing the dairy industry in the form of emissions, the centre will help Teagasc to expand its research capacity in grass physiology, animal physiology, animal nutrition and animal health. That will make a real impact in the years ahead.

It will also help the agriculture sector in adapting to climate change by facilitating research in the development of new cultivars of grass and clover that are resilient to changes in weather patterns and that will reduce the environmental footprint of agriculture. We are all very much aware that issues like water quality are equally very challenging, and we need more research in this area to bring forward solutions. It will be helpful in that regard. Moorepark has made a very significant contribution to our agricultural food scientific development in recent years and this will help to ensure is the case in the years ahead.

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