The Agri Sparks event was modelled after Research Sparks, a collaboration between SETU’s research divisions in Carlow, Waterford and Wexford that allows research-active staff to present to their colleagues on research they have conducted to date as well as future plans.
Goal of Agri Sparks
The goal of Agri Sparks was to bring together researchers, 17 in total, who are working in the Agri sector to present research and aid future collaboration between projects. Dr Geraldine Canny, Head of Research, SETU Waterford, introduced the event, and Hazel Peavoy, Senior Strategic Business Partner (AGRI), Walton Institute, SETU Waterford and VistaMilk Site Manager, acted as MC.
The event began at 9:30 a.m. on 20 October in the Auditorium on SETU’s Cork Road Waterford Campus, and each presenter had 5 minutes to give their presentation. This was followed by a panel discussion with Dr Stephen Whelan, SETU Wexford Programme Director; Dr Thomae Kakouli-Duarte, enviroCORE Director at SETU Carlow; Dr. Nick McCarthy, Principal Investigator at SETU Waterford’s Eco-Innovation Research Centre (EIRC); and Kevin Doolin, Executive Director of Walton Institute at SETU Waterford.
SETU’s research
James Cullen of EIRC, SETU Waterford, presented his research into optimising liquid feeding system hygiene to improve the microbiological quality of liquid feed for grow-finisher pigs. This study demonstrated the importance of keeping clean pipes in pig feeding machines as the plumbing can carry pathogens that can cause diseases in both pigs and humans.
Antoine Pichon, PhD Student in the SETU Carlow Campus, presented on the Bruchid Beetle (Bruchus rufimanus) and the Agronomic Value of Faba Bean Seed. Faba beans are a protein crop that is used for both food and feed. The bruchid beetle (Bruchus rufimanus) is a known pest of this crop, causing circular holes in the seed. Due to quality standards in both the food and feed markets, damaged seed is devalued or rejected. It also has a negative impact on seed germination and vigour. The study looks at the prevalence of the Bruchid beetle in Ireland as well as the effect of seed damage on plant growth and seed quality.
Kieran Sullivan of Walton Institute also presented his research using machine learning to detect disease clusters in cattle early. Irregular patterns in farm cattle mortality can indicate infectious disease outbreaks in a specific region. Controlling such outbreaks requires early detection, and a machine learning approach to data analysis has the potential to identify anomalies in large data sets before manual human analysis.
The events conclusion
The panel discussion emphasised the importance of collaborating on research projects and sharing information that would benefit everyone at SETU. Future European funding proposals were also discussed, with the goal of partnering to attract capital to continue pushing the boundaries of Agri research and solidifying SETU’s brand as an Agri research leader.