6 December, 2021

UCD, Teagasc and Welsh Universities in Oats Research
Gerry O'Sullivan
Posted: 18 February, 2021
Researchers at University College Dublin and two Welsh Universities have been awarded €2.7million to explore the development of oat varieties that are climate-resistant and have high nutritional value and superior health benefits. Teagasc – the Agriculture and Food Development Authority is also a partner.
The ‘Healthy Oats’ project – €2.18million of which has been granted from the European Regional Development Fund as part of the Ireland-Wales Cooperation Programme – will also help farmers and industry prepare for the changes pending under the EU Green deal, including reduced use of fertilisers and pesticides.
Led by UCD, in collaboration with Aberystwyth University, Swansea University and Teagasc, researchers will work with agricultural communities and stakeholders to promote the health, economic and environmental benefits of growing oats – a crop which is ideally suited to the climate of both countries and well-established in their traditional farming systems.
The researchers will test the resilience and performance of different varieties under reduced and targeted input tillage systems, and will work to identify varieties that have a combination of enhanced performance under low inputs and superior nutritional and health benefits.
Project leader at UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science, Professor Fiona Doohan said: “This EU-funded project is very timely as it will build on Irish and Welsh oat research to help industries in these regions to capitalise on the growing demand for sustainably produced oat products. The project brings together expertise on oat agronomy, nutrition and health science to help Ireland and Wales exploit the maximum value from our oat crops. Work in Teagasc and UCD, in collaboration with our Welsh colleagues, will select varieties and breeding material that has key agronomic benefits under reduced input agricultural systems, and is nutritionally superior. Work in UCD will also test the nutritional and sensory qualities of oat products, while work in Wales will test the health benefits of derivative oat products.”
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath, TD said: “This project marks another successful cooperation between Irish and Welsh institutions supported by the EU maritime cross-border Ireland-Wales programme.” He added: “Joint participation by institutions in Ireland and Wales in EU programmes has been a positive force for deepening the close relationships between us and promoting ongoing and increased engagement across the Irish Sea.”
Consumer demand for oats is increasing with the demand for healthier products, with food manufacturers capitalising on new opportunities in food categories including cereal bars, breads and drinks. The higher protein and oil content of oats mean that they have very high nutritional value and, in addition, are an effective replacement for imported soya.
Leading the research within the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) at Aberystwyth University, Professor John Doonan said: “Oats grow very well in Wales and Ireland and new products will provide the opportunity to increase both production and add value to a traditional crop. We will be working with colleagues on both sides of the Irish Sea to increase awareness and understanding of the potential of this crop.”
Head of oat breeding at Aberystwyth University, Dr Catherine Howarth added: “In addition to examining modern oat varieties, this project will explore the climate adaptability and grain composition of heritage varieties of oats from across Wales and Ireland. To increase the resilience and value of cropping systems to rural communities, we need to improve agrobiodiversity.”
Head of Crops Research at Teagasc, Dr Ewen Mullins concluded that projects such as ‘Healthy Oats’ provide a key research platform from which to address the needs of stakeholders in the sector. “Healthy Oats, in combination with on-going projects, will deliver research-led solutions to current and future challenges. This will support the expansion of the oats market, bringing added value to producers and all actors in the value chain.”
The Welsh Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths said: “I am very pleased to see that the ‘Healthy Oats’ project has been supported via the Ireland-Wales Cooperation Programme. Continued co-operation between universities and in Ireland and Wales marks not only our continued commitment to encourage such collaborative research relationships, but also to promote all-important innovation and co-operation within our food sector. Initiatives such as these are vital to our economy and we are pleased to continue to support them.”
A digital platform will be built as part of the project so that information and knowledge can be shared with industry and other stakeholders.
Source: alphagalileo.org
-
-
-
-
8 November, 2021
Three institutions successful in ECHE 2021 Call
-
1 November, 2021
Increased Financial Support for Inclusion in Erasmus+ Programme
-
26 October, 2021
€9.2m allocated for Year 1 of new Erasmus+ Programme
-
-
-
28 September, 2021
TU Dublin Student Kevin McGrath explores “space” on his Erasmus+ Traineeship
-
27 September, 2021
Commission President commits EU to tackling global challenges
-
21 September, 2021
The future “is digital” as European Commission launches Erasmus+ App
-
15 September, 2021
UCD’s Dipti Pandya – Erasmus, Maynooth and the “Glenroe” Theme Tune
-
-
7 September, 2021
Irish HEIs well represented in 2021 Erasmus Mundus Call
-
6 September, 2021
New report confirms positive momentum for EU open science
-
2 September, 2021
European Year of Rail: Connecting Europe Express – All Aboard!
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
28 June, 2021
Pandemic and Research – Survey
-
-
-
-
-
-
14 June, 2021
European Group Statement on ethics and governance
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
19 May, 2021
Co-operation Partnerships Deadline Extended
-
-
-
-
-
-
4 April, 2021
European Innovation Council will have a €10bn Budget
-
25 March, 2021
New Erasmus+ Programme aims to support 10m learners
-
22 March, 2021
Ireland to receive over €27m in Erasmus+ Funding in 2021
-
-
17 March, 2021
Want to know more about the Erasmus+ Programme?
-
12 March, 2021
Carnaval goes virtual at Athlone IT
-
-
-
1 March, 2021
Ireland in 3rd spot in new EU Performance Index
-
-
-
22 February, 2021
EU to invest €150m in Coronavirus Research
-
-
15 February, 2021
EC Launches New European Bauhaus Initiative
-
3 February, 2021
UCD – Timely Report on Virtual Teaching Approaches
-
2 February, 2021
Almost 4400 HEIs in Europe awarded Erasmus Charter
-
1 February, 2021
Funding Call for Cross-Border Teacher Collaborations Announced
-
21 January, 2021
UCD and TCD to benefit from EU Horizon 2020 funding
-
-
16 December, 2020
Over 5000 events celebrate the Erasmus Programme in 2020
-
12 December, 2020
Next Erasmus+ Programme clears political hurdle
-
6 December, 2020
Erasmus Barometer Survey 2019-2020 Open
-
6 October, 2020
Four Irish HEIs in share of €5m EU Knowledge Alliance Funding
-
-
28 September, 2020
€239,696 in Jean Monnet funding awarded to two Universities
-
27 August, 2020
EU launches COVID Response Project Call
-
20 August, 2020
EC to launch Digital Education Strategic Partnerships Call
-
23 July, 2020
6 Irish HEIs to share in €36m Erasmus Mundus Programme
-
-
-
-
2 July, 2020
Europass: take the next step! New platform launched
-
22 June, 2020
Ulysses Call 2020 – Results
-
-
17 March, 2020
New Deadlines for Erasmus+ Sport Actions
-
12 March, 2020
Coronavirus – Statement from An Taoiseach
-
-
-
27 February, 2020
Erasmus+ Project opens door to Algerian partnership for UL
-
24 February, 2020
Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme fourth Call
-
14 February, 2020
European Policy Experimentations – Call 2020
-
13 February, 2020
Secular cultures more welcoming according to new study
-
-
3 February, 2020
Coronavirus Research Call
-
-
8 January, 2020
Brazilian Universities develop new performance metrics
-
-
20 December, 2019
Photo Competition to celebrate 10 million Erasmus Students
-
16 December, 2019
Erasmus Days 2019 a huge success
-
12 December, 2019
Cork IT Erasmus Student wins prestigious music award
-
11 December, 2019
International Scholarship Call to issue in January 2020
-
8 November, 2019
Erasmus+ 2020 Call and Programme Guide 2020
-
4 November, 2019
Three HEIs in latest Erasmus Mundus awards
-
-
9 September, 2019
The future of European research must be inclusive
-
30 August, 2019
Government Investment to benefit internationalisation
-
28 August, 2019
Almost 100 Mobilities to Palestine in 2018 from Europe
-
26 August, 2019
Latest Edition of the Armenian E+ Office Newsletter
-
12 August, 2019
Irish Universities win nearly €2m of EU support
-
-
-
5 June, 2019
DCU – World Leader in addressing bullying
-
29 May, 2019
Brexit – Continuation of Erasmus+
-
-
-
-
-
11 March, 2019
Old Dominion University on a visit to Ireland
-
10 March, 2019
Carnaval at MIC
-
-
-
27 February, 2019
500 participants attend Palestinian National Erasmus+ Office INFO Day
-
26 February, 2019
Seed funding call for Teacher Education North and South launched
-
22 February, 2019
Universities UK calls on UK government to fund study abroad
-
-
19 February, 2019
U-Multirank Call 2019 – Deadline 1 May 2019
-
7 February, 2019
Erasmus+ and a “No Deal” Brexit – EC Statement
-
1 February, 2019
Erasmus+ Application Deadline extended to 12 February
-
-
20 December, 2018
Unusual Stats for Christmas
-
16 November, 2018
Erasmus+ Languages Survey
-
-
-
24 October, 2018
European Commission publishes Erasmus+ Call 2019
-
8 October, 2018
Mobility under Erasmus+: European Court of Auditors Report
-
17 September, 2018
RCSI to deliver joint pharmacy programme with Chinese University
-
10 September, 2018
World Suicide Prevention Day 10 September 2018
-
-
-
-
28 August, 2018
Finland aims to be at the forefront of the Arctic bioeconomy
-
-
-
14 August, 2018
EU agrees a number of joint initiatives with Japan
-
-
-
-
22 June, 2018
Ireland an EU leader in Innovation
-
21 June, 2018
EU’s External Budget – €123 billion proposed for 2021-27
-
-
-
-
15 June, 2018
Palestine Erasmus+ Office launches newsletter
-
3 June, 2018
Irish SMEs among winners in Commission Programme
-
-
11 May, 2018
RTÉ Brainstorm
-
3 May, 2018
Career Guidance – Public Consultation
-
-
-
27 April, 2018
Global Survey on Internationalisation
-