Rural Economy & Development. Programme. Farm Management & Rural Development. Agri-Food Business & Spatial Analysis

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1 Rural Economy & Development Programme Rural Economy & Development Programme Farm Management & Rural Development Agri-Food Business & Spatial Analysis Agricultural Economics & Farm Surveys A4 Document REDP.indd 1 22/07/ :36:19

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3 Contents Introduction 1 Teagasc Strategic Goals Where to Find Us 6 Teagasc Research Centre 7 Agricultural Economics and Farm Surveys Department 8 Agri-Food Business and Spatial Analysis Department 9 Farm Management and Rural Development Department 10

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5 Teagasc 1 Teagasc is a Development Agency of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The primary function of Teagasc is to support science-based innovation in the agri-food sector and the broader bio-economy. Professor Cathal O Donoghue Head of Rural Economy & Development Programme cathal.odonoghue@teagasc.ie Phone +353 (0) Teagasc Mission To support science-based innovation in the agri-food sector and wider bio-economy so as to underpin profitability, competitiveness and sustainability. Teagasc Vision Teagasc wishes to be nationally and internationally recognised as the knowledge provider of choice for Ireland s agri-food sector. Statement of Values We aim to be professional, responsive, efficient, accountable and independent while endeavouring to attain scientific excellence in all our activities and working in partnership with other organisations to meet the needs of our stakeholders. Rural Economy & Development Programme The aim of the Teagasc Rural Economy and Development Programme is to support the decision making of Teagasc stakeholders through research and knowledge transfer activities. In particular, the objectives of the Programme are to Collect timely, quality information in an efficient manner to support decision making by our stakeholders. Undertake research to understand the impact of changes in markets and policy on Irish agriculture and to enable each of our stakeholders to make better decisions. Provide advice, training and tools to support our stakeholders in making decisions that enable their business to be more effective. Understand who adopts technology, why potentially beneficial technologies are not adopted and how adoption can be increased. Provide specific skills to stakeholders to enable them to exploit income generating opportunities both on and off farm. The Programme s mission is to produce high quality social science research and advice to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of the Irish agri-food sector and to enhance the quality of life in rural Ireland, thus contributing to the achievement of Teagasc s key goals. An important focus is placed on policy relevant research that will help policy makers to design and implement better public policy.

6 2 Teagasc Strategic Goals Teagasc has four goals that are designed to: Goal 1 Improve the competitiveness of agriculture, food and the wider bio-economy Enhanced levels of productivity, reductions in costs and a single-minded focus on market orientation are critical components in driving growth in Irish agriculture and food. This will require the development of new technologies and systems and their dissemination and adoption. Goal 2 To support sustainable farming and the environment Future food production systems must be sustainable in terms of delivering a supply of safe, healthy food with low environmental impacts. This will require a hugely enhanced level of innovation, involve major improvements in efficiency and waste reduction and access to new types of technology. Goal 3 Encourage diversification of the rural economy and enhance the quality of life in rural areas High quality social science research and policy advice are needed to contribute to improving the competitiveness, profitability and sustainability of Irish agriculture and enhancing the quality of life in rural Ireland, including safety and health. Goal 4 Enhance organisational capability and deliver value for money Develop our people, processes and technology to ensure that we are a capable, responsive and results-oriented organisation.

7 3 The Rural Economy and Development Programme contributes to Teagasc strategic goals as follows: Assessment of Farm Level Performance To collect National Farm Survey (NFS) data that are used to evaluate the performance of Irish farms in terms of issues such as sustainability, productivity, financial performance, investments, environmental measures, adoption of technologies. To disseminate the NFS data to researchers and others in Teagasc, the Universities, Government and other Stakeholders and to provide data on the economic performance of Irish farms to the EU Farm Accountancy Data Network. Economic, Policy and Markets Analysis To provide evidence-based knowledge to support policy makers in designing, implementing and evaluating agricultural and broader rural policy. This research seeks to quantify the effect of policy measures on agricultural markets, farm income, the environment, farm households, specific regions, the broader rural economy and specific sectors in Ireland. To provide analysis of the impact of agricultural input and output market developments on agricultural incomes and to provide analysis of the competitiveness of the principal Irish agricultural enterprises. Food Market and Consumer Research To understand farmer, processor, customer and consumer behaviour to underpin marketoriented research and development, and underpin policy issues relating to the consumer e.g. public health and obesity Agri-Innovation and Learning To increase understanding of supply chain members capability building and technology adoption so as to facilitate development of appropriate policy initiatives support programmes relating to learning and innovation. Spatial Analysis To provide an evidence base to inform design, implementation and evaluation of various policy measures that seek to balance the needs for competitiveness and productivity with environmental sensitivity.

8 4 Farm Management Rural Development Enhance levels of productivity and reductions in Encourage diversification of the rural economy costs through the use or farm financial while supporting sustainable farming and management / business analysis tools (Teagasc personal development of farmers. eprofit Monitor, Farm Business Planner, etc.). Develop and encourage new collaborative Providing knowledge on diversified business to increase the viability of farm households with farming models and best practice in farm a particular focus on organic farming and equine. infrastructure design.

9 Rural Economy Development Programme Funding Sources 5 State Grant EU Framework FADN Farm Client Fee Income Course Fees Stimulus/FIRM/EPA Strive Consultancy Other People Teagasc is a knowledge intensive organisation which relies on its expertise, innovative capacity and research infrastructure for success. In total there are 53 staff involved in the Rural Economy and Development Programme, comprising 14 permanent researchers, 10 knowledge transfer staff, 18 technical staff, and 4 administrative staff. In addition there are 7 contract research staff and 22 Walsh Fellows. Teagasc Students Annual, postgraduate fellowships are awarded under the Teagasc Walsh Fellowship Postgraduate Programme (mainly to PhD level). The training of Walsh Fellows is aligned with Teagasc s mission to promote innovation in the agri-food sector. These young scientists will become the future drivers of Ireland s growing agri-food industry. The Rural Economy and Development Programme normally has 22 Walsh Fellows making a major contribution to the programme.

10 6 Where To Find Us REDP Research Centres Head Office, Research Centre and Advisory Research Centre and Advisory Advisory Centre Research Station Teagasc College and Advisory Private College Planned Closure Letterkenny Ballybofey Carndonagh Sligo/Leitrim/Donegal Manorhamilton Monaghan Mayo Roscommon/Longford Ballina Westport Claremorris Ballinrobe Ballymote Castlerea Roscommon Tuam Mountbellew Mohill Longford Ballyhaise Dundalk Navan Drogheda Mullingar Grange Kinsealy Ashtown Laois/Kildare/Meath/Louth/Dublin Westmeath/Offaly/Cavan/Monaghan Galway/Clare Athenry Ballinasloe Gurteen Tullamore Portlaoise Naas Botanic Gardens Tinahely Wicklow/Carlow/Wexford Tipperary Kerry/Limerick Ennis Kilrush Pallaskenry Listowel Newcastlewest Tralee Nenagh Thurles Solohead Clonmel Kilmallock Moorepark Knockbeg Kilkenny Mullinavat Kildalton Oak Park Gorey Enniscorthy Johnstown Castle Kilkenny/Waterford Killarney Kanturk Mallow Midleton Dungarvan Cork East Macroom Cork West Skibbereen Clonakilty

11 Teagasc Research Centres 7 Ashtown Research Centre Athenry Research Centre Research Facilities The programme s main research locations are at Teagasc Ashtown, Co. Dublin and Teagasc Athenry, Co. Galway while knowledge transfer specialists and farm survey recorders are based at various locations around the country.

12 8 Agricultural Economics and Farm Surveys Department Dr. Thia Hennessy Head of Agricultural Economics & Farm Surveys Department Phone +353 (0) Introduction The focus of this research department is the collection and dissemination of timely, quality information to support decision making by our stakeholders and the undertaking of research that seeks to understand the drivers of changes in agricultural markets and policy and the impact of these forces on Irish agriculture. The core skills and technologies of the department are agricultural production economics, economic modelling and data collection and dissemination. National Farm Survey FAPRI-Ireland Partnership Underpinning much of the analysis and modelling of the programme, is the Teagasc National Farm Survey (NFS) which has collected detailed financial and farm management data for a nationally representative sample since The NFS is the Irish component of the EU Farm Accountancy Data Network, which is harmonised across Europe facilitating an international comparison of the performance of agriculture. As the official statistical source on the economic performance of farms, the data collected by the NFS have been used extensively over the years for many purposes. Economists in Teagasc and other institutions have used the data to chart the performance of farms, measuring productivity, efficiency, farm investment and the adoption of technology. NFS data has also been used for policy analysis and the capability to demonstrate the impact of policy reform on Irish farm incomes has been critical in informing debate. Recent methodological improvements have improved the efficiency of delivery and management of the data and have allowed for linkages to administrative, geographic and environmental data. A significant amount of the research of the department is focused on the analysis of the impact of agricultural, trade and environmental policy on Irish agriculture. Much of the policy research in the Agricultural Economic and Farm Surveys Department takes place under the banner of the FAPRI-Ireland Partnership. This partnership between Teagasc and the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) at the University of Missouri was initiated in the mid-1990s. The research involves the development, maintenance and use of partial equilibrium economic models at farm and agricultural sector scales in the analysis of the impact of market and policy developments on Irish agriculture. The FAPRI-Ireland farm and aggregate sector models are linked with one-another and with EU and global models of agricultural commodity markets. The FAPRI-Ireland models have been used to examine a wide range of policy questions including the decoupling of direct payments, WTO trade agreements, expansion of the EU milk quota, national strategy planning such as Food Harvest 2020 and more recently environmental policy. The research undertaken using the FAPRI-Ireland models plays a central role in the Irish agricultural policy formation process by providing timely, evidence based information.

13 Agri-Food Business and Spatial Analysis Department 9 Introduction The department is divided into groups which have different foci, but are built on a base of social science and computer based analytical tools. This multi-disciplinary department conducts research at all points in the supply chain. Dr. Maeve Henchion Head of Agri-Food Business and Spatial Analysis Department maeve.henchion@teagasc.ie Phone +353 (0) Food Market and Consumer Research Spatial & Environmental Analysis This team undertakes research using expertise from strategic marketing, consumer behaviour and nutrition. It aims to improve strategic market performance, support the design and implementation of food sector support services and policy measures by public bodies, and underpin market-oriented research and development within the industry. Food market and consumer research is conducted using qualitative and quantitative research techniques to understand consumer behaviour and supply chain activities. In consumer research there is a focus on examining consumer behaviour and attitudes in relation to health and novel food technologies. Other areas covered are innovation management, strategic market planning, marketing channels, and supply chain and relationship management. Rural Development Research This is concerned with improving understanding of economic development in rural Ireland. It primarily focuses on changes affecting farm enterprises and farm households and exploring their implications for the broader rural economy. It does so by applying spatial analysis and microsimulation methods to capture the interconnections between farms, farm households and whole sectors of agriculture. This group has expertise built around rural geography, spatial analysis and remote sensing. It seeks to equip stakeholders with the knowledge to achieve high farm output and excellent agrienvironmental quality while providing evidencebased knowledge to support policymakers in designing, implementing and evaluating programmes. A key strength of geographic information systems and earth observing technologies is the potential for integrated analysis across all scales from the field right up to national level. New methods of analysis and the collection, archiving and distribution of spatial data on issues affecting the agri-food industry and the rural economy are being developed and applied. Agri Innovation & Learning Drawing on the disciplines of economics and sociology, this team uses social science tools to understand how farmers make decisions, learn and innovate, and to study the effectiveness of alternative knowledge transfer methodologies. It focuses on the agricultural knowledge and innovation system (AKIS) and seeks to understand the innovation systems that support farmers capability building and their technology adoption, as well as the extension mechanisms and activities through which Teagasc interacts with its clients.

14 10 Farm Management and Rural Development Department Fintan Phelan Head of Farm Management and Rural Development Department Introduction The objectives of this Department are to provide advice, training and tools to support our stakeholders in making decisions that enable their business to be more effective and profitable, and to provide specific skills and knowledge to Phone +353 (0) stakeholders to enable them to exploit income generating opportunities both on and off the farm, thus increasing their household viability. The activities of the department are closely integrated with the Teagasc Knowledge Transfer Directorate and are delivered through two teams. Farm Management The activities of the farm management team are focused on: Supporting farmers to become more profitable, efficient and viable into the future through improved financial management skills and more efficient use of technology. Providing support to farmers on farm expansion strategies, farming structures, succession planning, collaborative farming models and meeting the requirements of the Single Farm Payment/Basic Payment scheme. Rural Development The activities of this team are focused on: Adding value to existing on and off farm enterprises as well as new diversification activities to ensure that clients have a hybrid mix of income generating activities to sustain the farm household. The organics sub-programme focuses both on the technical aspects of conversion, as well as financial and direct selling of organic products and aims to encourage and support the conversion of farms to organic status, enabling farms generate extra income. Teagasc eprofit Monitor: A key objective of the department is the development and maintenance of decision support tools to assist farm clients in making financial decisions. The Teagasc eprofit Monitor (epm) is a farm business financial analysis system and decision support tool. It allows for whole farm and individual enterprise analysis of output, costs and profit using standard measures presented in a standard format. Utilising the low cost input model of farming, this team is involved in delivering programme objectives to part-time farmers. The equine team s objective is to provide technical advice and training to the sport horse industry, with a particular focus on improving breeding, horsemanship and equine business skills. They hold a leadership role in Knowledge Transfer in this industry. This allows farmers and their Teagasc adviser or other professionals to identify strengths and weaknesses in farm business performance and allows benchmarking of key financial measures. The epm also allows users to link with data from other sources such as the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF). Teagasc Farm Options Programme: About forty percent of Irish farmers are classified as economically vulnerable. The Teagasc Farm Options Programme aims to facilitate farm households to exploit the full potential of their farm resources by focusing on the financial position of their farm and exploring on and off-farm opportunities. The department has particular strengths in developing alternative income streams in the areas of organic farming and equine enterprises.

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16 Contact Details: Teagasc Rural Economy & Development Programme Athenry, Co. Galway Tel: +353 (0) Fax: +353 (0)