Achieving economic and environmentally sustainable intensification of milk production – The role of innovation, technology and best practice adoption

Background
The abolition of the EU milk quota regime in 2015 removes one of the most significant constraints on EU dairy farmers’ ability to expand their milk production; however any future expansion that takes place should be sustainable from both an economic and environmental perspective. In response to the abolition of EU milk quotas, the Food Harvest 2020 report is targeting a 50% increase in Irish milk production. Achieving this level of expansion of milk production in an environmentally sustainable fashion will place an increasing emphasis on efficiency and innovation at farm level, especially in the areas of technology and best practice adoption as this has the potential to yield increased output while minimising the impact on the environment. This project will examine the factors influencing technology adoption in the context of environmentally and economically sustainable intensification of the Irish dairy sector. Specific objectives will include:
1. To identify a range of best practices/technologies that could offset the environmental stresses of the expected expansion in milk production.
2. To identify combinations of technologies/best practices that could be adopted to achieve increased production/profitability and environmental sustainability on dairy farms.
3. To identify the key drivers/barriers impacting the adoption of appropriate technologies/best management practices.
4. Provide Teagasc knowledge transfer and innovation services with useable knowledge to help optimise their technology transfer activities.

Requirements
Candidates should have a first or upper second-class honours degree in agricultural science, economics, environmental science or a related subject. It is expected that the student will be based at UCD for the first two years of the PhD programme and will be based at Teagasc, Athenry for years 3 and 4 of the PhD programme.

Award
The successful candidate will be expected to register with the School of Agriculture and Food Science at University College Dublin for a 4-year Ph.D. degree. The fellowship provides an annual stipend of €21,000 for 4 years. University fees are paid by the student from the stipend. The Fellowship will start as soon as possible after 1st of January.

Further Information
Dr James Breen, School of Agriculture and Food Science, UCD, Belfield, Dublin 4
Tel: +353 (0)1-7167764 e-mail: [Email Address Removed]

Application Procedure
Submit an electronic copy of Curriculum Vitae, including the names and addresses of at least two referees as well as a letter of interest simultaneously to:
Dr James Breen e-mail: [Email Address Removed]
Closing date 20th January 2017.