Research facilities worth over €2.1 million in the areas of horticulture, forestry and education were officially opened at Teagasc’s Ashtown campus in Dublin today by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Andrew Doyle.
Facilities include a modern glasshouse equipped with advanced systems for research, a turf grass academy, a horticultural utility building , a large multi-span forestry polytunnel and additional polytunnells and structures which have various specific uses.
The other primary piece of infrastructure on the site is the mushroom research unit which has 100m2 of growing area to support a dedicated mushroom research programme.
Speaking at the opening, Minister Doyle said:
“I firmly believe the development we witness today is a tribute to the wisdom and foresight of the Teagasc Board when they took the decision to approve this investment; it clearly was the right decision and has resulted in facilities of an appropriately high standard being available for Horticulture and Forestry staff. Furthermore, it represents a key resource for the relevant sectors and for students and academics alike.”
Teagasc Chairman, Dr Noel Cawley said:
“Horticulture and Forestry are becoming increasingly more important land-use sectors in Ireland. Teagasc are pleased to have made these investments in state-of-the-art facilities which will enable the excellent research to continue and to develop further. The Ashtown campus, through this and previous investments, is now well equipped to provide the standard of research, education and training required by technologically advanced sectors.”
This investment followed a decision taken as part of the Teagasc change programme which saw the Teagasc Kinsealy campus close and horticulture, forestry and education activities moved to the Ashtown campus, where Teagasc already has a food research centre. The investment was funded through the disposal of Teagasc assets and Teagasc funding from the Government.
Visitors to facilities today were given an outline of the Teagasc horticulture, forestry and education programmes by Professor Gerry Boyle, Teagasc Director.
The Teagasc horticultural education programme, as operated by the College of Amenity Horticulture, is now integrated into the Ashtown campus, using the facilities for the past year.
Students attending the College of Amenity Horticulture spend time learning at both the Teagasc teaching facilities in the National Botanic Gardens and in Ashtown.
The education programme delivery includes, Landscape construction, Hort Production Mechanisation at Advanced cert Level 6, degree level 7 and sports turf science and maintenance at Level 6 and fruit and vegetable production and plant propagation at Level 5.
The nursery facilities in the glasshouse are also being used for final year degree students who wish to do projects in nursery stock production.
