Coughlin Details Awards of Euro 18 Million In Research & Development Grants

The Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan T.D., last week announced details of 35 research projects that have been awarded grant assistance totalling €18 million under the 2006 Research Stimulus Fund Programme (RSFP).

The Minister said that the selected research projects cover a broad range of areas including animal and plant bioscience, non-food uses of agricultural land and agri-environment. Most of the projects will be of 3 years duration and will involve inter-institutional collaboration. The research involved will be of a 'public good' nature and the results will be made freely available.

The Minister was pleased to note that a further two projects relating to biofuels and energy crops are being grant aided under the 2006 awards following the three research projects which were selected for assistance in 2005. This is an area of particular interest due to the environmental advantages of biofuels, the increasing cost of fossil fuels, and the opportunity farmers now have to explore alternative farm enterprises.

The Minister went on say that the main objectives of the RSFP are to facilitate research that fills gaps in mainstream programmes, to support sustainable and competitive agricultural production practices and policies, and to contribute to building and maintaining a knowledge economy and a scientific research capability in the agriculture sector.

Minister Coughlan said that the projects now being funded should produce benefits not only for producers but also for the wider rural community. They will also contribute to improved collaboration between various research institutions and to the establishment of critical mass in certain research areas.