Multi-species grassland mixtures: some recent Irish research

Multi-species mixtures are expected to benefit grassland production because of the yield advantage from nitrogen fixed by clover, the variety of rooting structures allows them to access a wider range of soil water and nutrients, and their canopy structure that allows them to intercept more sunlight. In addition, they are associated with lower parasite loads in livestock, reduced greenhouse emissions, and increased carbon sequestration. Here, we give a brief overview of some of our current (2020) research on mixtures at Teagasc, Johnstown Castle.

Our recent online webinars on biodiversity

As part of Virtual Beef Week (July 8th), there is an online presentation and interview with the Farmer's Journal on biodiversity policy, videos of on-farm practices to improve farmland biodiversity, and interviews with farmers implementing these practices as part of the BRIDE EIP. Also discussion of habitat quantity, quality and results-based payments. With myself, Catherine Keena and Daire Ó hUallacháin of Teagasc. (From 8.17 to 30 mins in the video.)

Teagasc Research Insights Webinars Dec 16th, 2020. In this talk, I give an overview of some of our research on the extent and distribution of farmland habitats at a national and farm scale. I also introduce results-based payments for delivery of biodiversity improvements. (From 1.30 to 19 mins in the video). 

In this webinar as part of the Burren Winterage School (Oct 2020), I discuss some of the principles of results-based approaches for biodiversity conservation. This is illustrated with examples from Irish projects, programmes and case studies that have been applying results-based approaches. It's only fitting that we presented our work back to the Winterage School, as this is where we first committed to publish the book of case studies on results-based payments! (From 30.50 to 54 min). 

In a recent youtube video about multi-species grassland mixtures by DLF, see Guylain Grange and Saoirse Cummins (Teagasc, Johnstown Castle) talk about their research (from 4.09 minutes), amid related research ongoing at UCD and WIT. 

Grassland conservation options in AEOS from a results-based perspective

In a 2017 post, we outlined the main results from a publication (Ó hUallacháin et al., 2016) that compared the vegetation in three different options for grassland conservation under the Irish agri-environment scheme (Agri-Environment Option Scheme, AEOS). Here, we outline the main results of that study, and develop it further with a more detailed interpretation of that work from the perspective of results-based approaches. Across the three grassland options in that study, the options had the effect of preferentially enrolling and financially rewarding lower-quality vegetation. We show how a results-based approach could better target, incentivise and reward the provision of higher-quality vegetation, and make a greater contribution to biodiversity conservation.

SmartAgriHubs: pilot incorporation of farmland habitats in Teagasc National Farm Survey

Teagasc is investigating how to incorporate biodiversity into ~300 participant farms in the Teagasc National Farm Survey. This is being piloted as part of the EU SmartAgriHubs project, which focuses on digital innovation in the agrifood sector. Here, I briefly describe why biodiversity should be included in sustainability assessment, the aims of the pilot project and our methodology, and its potential contribution to improving biodiversity monitoring in farmland.

Report: Independent evaluation of environmental effects of GLAS

The Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) has been the Agri-Environment Scheme in Ireland over the RDP period 2014-2020. GLAS. A report from summer 2020 provides an evaluation of GLAS by an independent environmental consultancy. The report is available on the DAFM website here: Evaluation of the Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS): Synthesis of evidence, and includes an Executive Summary and list of recommendations in addition to the main report. 

Methodology to include farmland habitats in sustainability assessments

A new Teagasc publication to be published in the Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research outlines the development of scalable methods to include farmland habitats in sustainability assessments. Here, I give a brief 'taster' of the content of that paper, and an overview of the approach that is based on categorising farmland habitats using satellite imagery. 

 

Farming for Nature: the role of Results-Based Payments 

A new book published by Teagasc and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) (www.teagasc.ie/farmingfornature) highlights several Irish case studies of results-based payments for biodiversity conservation.