DAERA puts student research on top of the agenda

Date published: 02 October 2017

Postgraduate students were provided with the opportunity to discuss outcomes of key research areas with representatives of the agri-food industry at a seminar hosted by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

DAERA sponsored Postgraduate students were provided with the opportunity to discuss outcomes of key research areas with representatives of the agri-food industry at a seminar hosted by the DAERA.

The seminar was held at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), Greenmount Campus, where DAERA-funded post graduate students discussed research topics including; remote sensing, beef housing systems, diffuse water pollution, eco-labelling and the threat of invasive species to Northern Ireland sea fisheries.

Dr Alistair Carson, DAERA Director of Science, Evidence and Innovation Policy Division chaired the event. He said: “The vital role of science is clearly recognised within DAERA. We continue to rely heavily on research to provide robust evidence to inform our policy development and to underpin new innovations supporting sustainability in the agri-food and wider rural economy.  Our Postgraduate Programme is an important component of our research funding portfolio.”

Guest speaker, Professor Nigel Scollan, Director of the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University Belfast, provided an insight into his career as a scientific leader of International standing and his work on the Waitrose Farming Partnership. He said: “The Waitrose Partnership supply chain approach has strong principles built on trust, honesty, service and value, sharing knowledge, profit and power. All partners work for the improvement of the business in the knowledge that the rewards of success are shared.”

Other postgraduate student research topics discussed at the seminar, included;

  • the NI beef supply chain and local beef scheme
  • the role of higher protein forages
  • native Irish trees under threat from emergent pathogens
  • trophic impacts of gelatinous zooplankton.

DAERA plans to open the 2018 Postgraduate Studentship Competition in December 2017. Awards are made for a 3 year PhD Research Studentship aligned to DAERA Priority Research Areas, which will be published at launch of the competition. 

See further details of DAERA’s postgraduate research

Notes to editors: 

  1. Details of the postgraduate scheme, along with topics being funded
  2. DAERA plans to open the 2018 Postgraduate Studentship Competition December 2017. Awards are made for a 3 year PhD Research Studentship aligned to our Priority Research Areas, which will be published at launch. 
  3. DAERA invests around £0.7m annually in Postgraduate Studentships. Each year, up to 12 new studentships are awarded through a competitive process.
  4. Follow us on Twitter
  5. For media enquiries about this press release please contact DAERA Press Office 028 90524619 or via email. Out of office hours, contact the EIS Duty Press Officer on pager 07623 974 383 and your call will be returned.

Share this page

Back to top