Ireland, which initiated Food Vision 2030, is strengthening collaboration with India on strategies for making food systems more sustainable and climate neutral. Expert representatives from University College Dublin (UCD), a leading institution in agri-food research, recently met officials from various Indian institutions to explore partnerships and expand global outreach. Prof. Eileen Gibney, Director of the UCD Institute of Food and Health, and Prof. Frank Monahan, Head of the School of Agriculture and Food Science, met counterparts from institutions such as IIT Bombay, ICT (Mumbai), Lady Irwin College (University of Delhi), TERI School of Advanced Studies, Amity University, and Manipal University (Jaipur), among others.
Considering that Ireland exports €19 billion worth of food annually, the initiative places a strong emphasis on producing high-quality, nutritious, safe, and sustainably sourced food for the world at large. “India, too, is tackling similar challenges in sustainability, with a strong focus on ensuring food security through policy research, innovation, and equitable food distribution,” observed Professor Gibney. Despite differences in agricultural practices—Ireland’s being predominantly dairy and meat-based, while India has many small farms focused on plant-based and diverse crop cultivation—both countries share challenges such as food security, sustainability, and nutrition.
A collaboration between Ireland and India holds immense potential in addressing shared global food system challenges.
Professor Monahan pointed out that “By sharing knowledge and resources, Ireland and India can improve accessibility to nutritious food and develop sustainable agricultural practices, ensuring a more equitable and nutritionally secure food system.”
UCD’s expertise in agritech comes from their years of experience, having successfully run technology centers like Food For Health Ireland, backed by Enterprise Ireland and other industry stakeholders, and delivered initiatives like personalized nutrition research through the Food4Me Project. Operating as a public-private partnership, Food4Health Ireland focuses on research that enhances the functional value of food products. Gibney said, “Initially, the center primarily worked with dairy companies, studying bioactivities in dairy foods that could positively impact glycemic function, hypertension, and inflammation. By conducting research in cell, animal, and human models, UCD has provided strong scientific evidence to support nutritional and health claims, enabling industry partners to bring validated products to market.”
However, the bigger challenge is ensuring the adoption of these technologies by Indian farmers, especially smallholders. Professor Monahan highlighted, “Farmers are more likely to adopt new techniques when they see their peers successfully implementing them. Knowledge transfer programs, farmer-to-farmer training, and practical demonstrations will be key to making an impact.”
Given India’s emphasis on millets and plant-based diets through initiatives like the National Millets Mission, UCD aims to contribute its expertise in crop research. Gibney highlighted that Ireland’s work on wheat, barley, and oats could be beneficial. “We can add value through improved irrigation techniques and genetic enhancements. The success of this initiative depends not only on increasing millet production but also on encouraging consumer adoption,” she said.
A key focus area for UCD in Indian agriculture is digital technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Professor Monahan elaborated, “Ireland has made significant advancements in precision agriculture, using AI-driven data analytics, satellite imaging, and sensor technologies to optimize farming practices. These techniques help farmers make more informed decisions about irrigation, fertilizer application, and crop rotation, ultimately leading to higher yields with lower environmental impact. Given India’s ambition to modernize its agricultural sector, there is tremendous scope to adapt Ireland’s expertise in precision farming to suit India’s diverse agricultural landscape, particularly in helping small-holder farmers improve efficiency, monitor soil-health, predict climate-related risks and reduce resource wastage. The key would be to tailor these technologies to Indian conditions, ensuring they are accessible, cost-effective, and scalable.”
UCD’s long-term objectives revolve around reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving biodiversity, and enhancing water quality, while maintaining Ireland’s reputation as a producer of high-quality, safe food.
Asked about India’s role, Professor Gibney emphasised on mutual learning. She explained, “Ireland can benefit from India’s extensive experience with plant-based diets, while India can gain insights from Ireland’s expertise in agricultural innovation, food safety, and consumer behaviour research. We see potential in working with Indian researchers and institutions to develop joint strategies that make sustainable food systems more viable at both national and global levels.”
Earlier this week, UCD hosted a roundtable discussion at the Irish Ambassador’s residence in New Delhi, bringing together experts from TERI School of Advanced Studies, Lady Irwin College, Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Acharya Narendra Dev College, GroupM (UCD Alum attended), Ireland India Business Association (IIBA), and Jaipur’s Manipal University and Amity University. The discussion explored potential collaborations to address challenges in the agri-food sector.
“We have also seen that many Indian universities are closely aligned with agritech startups, providing a potential avenue for collaboration in applying research insights to real-world agricultural practices. Although our visit primarily focused on partnerships with research institutions, we are keen to explore engagements to include policymakers and industry leaders,” Monahan concluded.
