TU Dublin Researchers Secure Funding Under €37.5 Million National Investment in Agri-Food, Forest and Bioeconomy Research
Technological University Dublin researchers have secured funding across six major research projects as part of a €37.5 million national investment announced by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and the Department of State with responsibility for Research and Development.
The funding, awarded through the DAFM 2025 Thematic Research Call, will support pioneering research addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing Ireland’s agri-food, forestry, bioeconomy, food systems and digital innovation sectors. The national programme will fund 30 research projects involving institutions across Ireland and Northern Ireland, supporting the education and training of more than 90 postgraduate students and over 60 contract researchers.
Announcing the overall €37.5 million funding package, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon TD said:
This €37.5 million in awards is an investment in the future of Ireland’s agri-food, forest and bioeconomy sectors. Cutting-edge research and innovation are essential to ensuring that these sectors remain competitive, resilient and sustainable in the years ahead.
Our farmers and food producers need access to the best possible evidence, technologies and practices. This research investment will generate the insights and innovations required to meet those needs – with projects covering areas such as functional foods for healthy ageing, improving water quality response times at catchment level, fibre-based packaging for longer shelf life, new approaches to tracking and controlling TB, and a first of its kind study in Ireland testing feed additives for reduced methane over an animal’s lifetime.
Minister of State with special responsibility for Research and Development Noel Grealish TD added:
Collaboration is at the heart of this investment. I am delighted to see that the projects will involve the education and training of over 90 postgraduate students and over 60 contract researchers, thus ensuring a continuous stream of highly skilled scientific talent coming through to our industry.
TU Dublin researchers will play leading roles in six successful projects spanning sustainable packaging, climate-resilient forestry, infant nutrition, livestock disease surveillance, advanced bio-based materials and national food consumption research.
Dr Dympna O’Sullivan, Vice President for Research and Innovation at TU Dublin, said:
We are delighted to see TU Dublin researchers recognised through this significant national investment in research. These projects reflect the breadth and strength of our expertise across sustainable food systems, bio-based materials, forestry, digital technologies and public health. Through strong collaboration with partners across Ireland, our researchers are developing innovative solutions to address some of the most pressing challenges facing society, while also creating valuable opportunities for postgraduate education, research training and future talent development.
TU Dublin to Lead Sustainable Packaging Research
TU Dublin will lead the BIOFLEXIS project, Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) Fibre-Based Packaging with Enhanced Barrier Properties for Shelf-Life Extension of Perishable Horticultural Produce, which has secured funding of €747,582.
Led by Dr Swarna Jaiswal, Principal Investigator at the Centre for Sustainable Packaging and Bioproducts (CSPB), BIOFLEXIS will develop sustainable fibre-based packaging solutions for fresh horticultural produce using agricultural and marine by-products. The project aims to support the transition from conventional plastic packaging towards compostable, low-carbon and circular alternatives that can reduce packaging waste, improve produce shelf life and contribute to a more sustainable food supply chain.
The project will also support the development of future research talent through the recruitment of two PhD candidates and two Master’s by Research students over the next four years.
Supporting Climate-Resilient Forests
TU Dublin is a partner in ResilientForests, a €1.45 million project focused on advancing tree improvement research for climate-resilient, diverse and productive forests in Ireland.
Led at TU Dublin by Dr Sameer Mehra, Principal Investigator in the Wood and Bio-based Materials Research Group, the university’s research will focus on wood quality evaluation and supporting national tree improvement efforts. The project will deliver new research, tools and expertise to support climate-resilient forest management, genetic resource conservation and sustainable timber production.
TU Dublin will recruit a dedicated PhD researcher as part of the project.
Investigating Sugar Reduction in Infant Foods
TU Dublin is a partner in SWEETWISE (Sugar and sWeetener Evaluation for Emerging Technologies with Infant food Solutions for Exposure), a project awarded €1.31 million.
Led at TU Dublin by Dr Liz O’Sullivan, Lecturer in Nutrition, the university’s research will focus on behavioural approaches to reducing free sugar intake among young children and examining how the marketing and promotion of commercially available complementary foods influence parental decision making.
The wider project brings together expertise in nutrition, genetics, food science, dentistry and feeding behaviour to develop evidence-based sugar reduction strategies in Ireland.
Using Artificial Intelligence to Strengthen Livestock Disease Surveillance
TU Dublin is also contributing to SENTINEL (Surveillance and Early Warning for Emerging Threats in Livestock using Artificial Intelligence), a project funded through a €1.5 million investment.
Led at TU Dublin by Dr Steven Davy, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Digital Technologies, researchers will help develop advanced AI-driven systems capable of capturing and analysing previously underutilised animal health data sources to strengthen disease surveillance and early warning systems across the island of Ireland.
The project aims to improve the rapid detection of emerging and re-emerging livestock diseases while supporting more resilient agricultural systems.
Developing Advanced Bio-Based Materials from Irish Forest Biomass
TU Dublin researchers are key partners in BIOFABRICATE, a €2.69 million project focused on creating sustainable, high-performance alternatives to fossil-based products using Irish forest biomass.
The TU Dublin team is led by Dr Sameer Mehra and Damien Cross from the Wood and Bio-based Materials Research Group. The project will develop and validate advanced bio-based materials and technologies for applications in construction, manufacturing, food packaging and pharmaceuticals.
Over the next four years, the project will support the recruitment of PhD researchers across participating institutions, including two PhD candidates at TU Dublin.
Contributing to National Nutrition Research
TU Dublin is also participating in the National Children’s Food Survey III, a €1.5 million national research initiative that will provide critical data on the dietary habits and nutritional intake of children in Ireland. The TU Dublin team will be led by Professor John Kearney.
The survey will inform future public health policy and nutrition strategies while contributing valuable evidence to support healthier food environments for children and families.
The DAFM 2025 Thematic Research Call supports research across climate mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity, sustainable food production, animal and plant health, bioeconomy innovation and food systems transformation. The programme contributes to the implementation of Food Vision 2030 and Impact 2030: Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy.