Irish Aid increases collaboration with universities and research centres to reduce global hunger

The Minister of State for Overseas Development, Peter Power T.D., yesterday announced significant funding for collaborative research between Irish universities and international research centres to combat hunger. Outlining the Government’s increased support, Minister Power said:

“This initiative represents an investment in research that will ultimately help to increase food production, improve diets and reduce vulnerability to crop failure across the developing world. It will draw on the expertise in Irish universities and international research centres to establish practical and sustainable solutions to the problem of hunger and food insecurity. Irish research expertise can make a real contribution in the fight against hunger.

The funding will be dispersed as follows:

Nearly €150,000 will be allocated to support two PhD research projects on plant breeding which will be conducted at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture’s facilities in Uganda and Nigeria, the National University of Ireland, Galway, and University College Cork.

In addition, just over €210,000 will be provided to each of the three following research institutes; the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA); the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI); and to the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT).