This position can be located in either Teagasc, Environment Research Centre, Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford, or Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co Cork

Background

In response to European climate law, Ireland alongside neighbouring member states is implementing national plans to decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by over 50% by 2030. Long-term, both Ireland and the EU is to achieve climate neutrality by the middle of the century through balancing residual emissions with carbon sequestration. Agriculture is a contributor to climate change and an important part of the solution, as decreasing farm-related GHG emissions and sequestering carbon plays a significant role in limiting climate change. Collectively agricultural solutions for mitigation of and adaptation to climate change are widely known as climate smart farming (CSF). Research and innovation (R&I) is key to accelerating the transition to CSF, enabling the development of solutions, overcoming barriers and uncovering new markets. While research on CSF is growing quickly, current R&I has largely centred on certain aspects such as productivity, adaptation and mitigation and has rarely addressed these elements in an integrated way. Additionally, there is a lack of harmonised tools for evaluating CSF, particularly for use on ‘average farms’. These gaps will be addressed by developing new CSF innovations on experimental research stations (ERS). Specifically, cutting edge solutions will be investigated on 10 pioneering ERS and climate toolkits will be tested on innovative ERS. These ERS will play a crucial role in promoting the transition towards climate neutral and resilient agriculture

Basic Function

Teagasc is seeking a motivated and skilled Research Officer to support Climate Smart Research, a new project funded under Horizon Europe. Climate smart research will contribute to EU sustainability goals by advancing knowledge and innovation in CSF through its network of ERS. The successful candidate will join an exciting international consortium, collaborating with experts in the EU and New Zealand. The appointee will collect and compare digital tools for modelling farm-level GHG balances, track performance in reducing emissions, and assess decision-support systems with potential for use on typical farms. They will also help enhance the Farming for Climate platform, support the development of standardised monitoring, reporting and verification protocols, write reports and scientific articles, network with project partners, and disseminate findings

• Identify and characterise farm GHG models, calculators, life cycle assessments (LCA) and decision support tools and services - collectively known as climate toolkits.
• Support the expansion and enrichment of the research dimension of a common climate repository – Farming for Climate.
• Conduct meta-analysis or systematic review of climate toolkits to define selection criteria e.g., data requirements, methodology, performance metrics, scientific robustness.
• Facilitate brokerage events linking ERS and emerging practices from sister projects.
• Apply selected climate toolkits to agricultural ERS and frontrunner demo farms in affiliated projects, Climate Farm Demo and Climate Smart Advisors.
• Benchmark GHG emissions and sustainability metrics of toolkits against measurements undertaken on pioneering or innovative ERS.
• Test the potential to use climate toolkits on typical farms across the EU and evaluate promising solutions for mitigation of GHG emissions.
• Contribute to reports evaluating the suitability of tested climate toolkits for application across major EU farming systems in contrasting agro-climatic zones.
• To assist Teagasc in meeting the commitments of the Quality Customer Service Charter and Action Plan.
• To actively participate in the annual business planning and Performance Management Development System (PMDS) processes.
• Fully co-operate with the provisions made for ensuring the health, safety and welfare of themselves, fellow staff and non-Teagasc staff and co-operate with management in enabling Teagasc to comply with legal obligations. This includes full compliance with the responsibilities outlined in the Safety Statement.
• Any other duties as may be assigned from time to time

* This job specification is intended as a guide to the general range of duties and is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive.  It will be reviewed from time to time with the post holder.

 Note:  The ‘essential’ qualifications, knowledge, skills and behavioural competencies outlined above are ‘must-have’ which will be used in the selection process.