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[Press Release: January 9th, 2008] Minister Sargent Details Awards of €21 Million in R & D GrantsResearch Proposals covering agri-energy and agri-environment are grant assistedMr. Trevor Sargent T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, today welcomed details of 38 research projects that have been awarded grant assistance totalling €21 million under the 2007 Research Stimulus Fund Programme (RSFP).Minister Sargent said that the Department in co-operation with linked Departments under the strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2006-2013 earlier this year invited applications for funding for research into aspects of sustainable agriculture and forestry production. The selected research projects cover a broad range of areas including agri-energy, agri-environment and biodiversity, plant bioscience and agri-economy and policy. Most of the projects will be of 3 years duration and will involve inter-institutional collaboration. The research involved will be of a 'public good' nature and the results will be made freely available. Minister Sargent was pleased to note that a number of Northern Ireland Research Institutes are among the selected projects that will receive funding. He was also pleased to see that a further seven projects in the agri-energy area are being grant aided following the five projects selected for assistance in 2005 and 2006. This is an area of particular interest due to the environmental advantages of biofuels, the increasing cost of fossil fuels, and the opportunity farmers now have to explore alternative farm enterprises. Minister Sargent went on say that the main objectives of the RSFP are to facilitate research that fills gaps in mainstream programmes, to support sustainable and competitive agricultural production practices and policies, and to contribute to building and maintaining a knowledge economy and a scientific research capability in the agriculture sector. Minister Sargent said that the projects now being funded should produce benefits not only for producers but also for the wider rural community. They will also contribute to improved collaboration between various research institutions and to the establishment of critical mass in certain research areas. Following the call for proposals earlier this year 67 applications were received and these were evaluated by expert panels and submitted to the Research Stimulus Fund Committee for consideration and approval. Details on the allocation of the grants may be found here
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