Dublin: As part of the Teagasc Thought Leaders series, Catriona Boyle conversed with Dr. Siobhán Jordan about Teagasc's efforts to support the bioeconomy, emphasizing practical and impactful approaches from farm to fork.
According to EMM, Dr. Siobhán Jordan, who heads Teagasc's Technology Transfer Office, leads a team dedicated to fostering meaningful collaborations between researchers and industry. This involves commercializing intellectual property and exploring entrepreneurial opportunities. Bioeconomy Ireland Week, scheduled for October 13 to 19, 2025, aims to raise awareness of Ireland's fast-growing bioeconomy sector.
The bioeconomy is recognized as a promising opportunity for sustainable development, driven by renewable biological resources, circular thinking, and innovation. As global demand for sustainable alternatives to fossil-based inputs increases due to market, policy, and regulatory factors, Ireland is well placed to respond. The country's abundant biomass, robust agri-food sector, and world-class research capacity make it ripe for innovation in the bioeconomy.
Teagasc plays a pivotal role in applied research, education, and industry engagement. Collaborating with national and international partners, Teagasc leads major initiatives funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), the Shared Island and Just Transition funds, Research Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, and EU Horizon Europe. These investments support the development of climate-smart farming, low-carbon bio-manufacturing, and nature-based solutions for rural and urban businesses.
Teagasc's leadership in the bioeconomy is evident through its cross-disciplinary research programs spanning agriculture, marine, forestry, and food systems. The organization is generating bio-based resources from new feedstocks, crop residues, animal by-products, and novel microbial systems. This work enhances the production and utilization of biological raw materials, leading to new bio-based products like fertilizers, packaging materials, functional foods, and novel bioactive ingredients, which open up markets such as nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals.
Practical demonstrators for farmers and industry are vital for testing and showcasing solutions for widespread adoption. Initiatives like converting agri-food waste into high-value compounds and upcycling grass and seaweed into animal feed supplements or bioplastics offer tangible pathways toward climate neutrality.
For farmers and agri-food companies, this means diversification and enhanced resilience. Opportunities for new revenue streams from bio-based processing, participation in local biorefineries, and climate-friendly farm practices are becoming more viable. Companies benefit from Teagasc's expertise in pilot-scale validation, scientific insights, and regulatory navigation.
This work is already having an impact, as evidenced by Bioeconomy Ireland Week and various demonstration initiatives supporting green job creation, rural regeneration, and export potential. These advances align with Ireland's climate targets, including emissions reduction by 2030. Looking forward, the bioeconomy will be central to achieving a nature-positive, climate-neutral economy, with Teagasc remaining a key driver of Ireland's bio-based and climate-smart future.