Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD and Minister of State with special responsibility for research Noel Grealish TD today launched Phase 2 of the VistaMilk Research Ireland Centre at a special event hosted at Teagasc Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork.
This marks a significant step forward in the Centre’s mission to enhance sustainability and innovation in Ireland’s agri-food sector through pioneering research and technology.
Launching the second six-year phase of the Centre, Minister Heydon, stated:
“Ireland’s agri-food sector, and, in particular, our world-renowned dairy industry, plays a vital role not just in rural communities, but also the national economy. It is critical that we continue to invest, though initiatives like VistaMilk, to ensure that we remain global leaders. This multi-disciplinary research centre, with important industry partners, will continue to deliver real-world impact through science and collaboration.”
The launch of Phase II highlights VistaMilk’s continued commitment to advancing research in areas spanning soil health, pasture management, animal wellbeing, and food innovation—delivering solutions that benefit farmers, industry, and the environment alike. Since its inception, VistaMilk has been at the forefront of integrating emerging technologies—such as artificial intelligence, sensor systems, and mathematical modelling—into real-world agricultural applications.
Minister of State Noel Grealish highlighted the unique structure and significance of the Centre’s funding:
“VistaMilk is uniquely co-funded by two Government Departments—Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. This joint investment underlines the national importance of the Centre’s work, both for scientific excellence and for the future of sustainable farming in Ireland. I am pleased that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is investing over €8.66 million in Phase II of the Centre, our largest ever single investment in a research centre.”
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, welcomed the launch, saying:
“I’m pleased to see this next phase of the development of VistaMilk’s mission to lead the Agri-Food technology sector through innovation and enhanced sustainability. This work is important across the dairy supply chain, positively impacting the environment, animal well-being , the health of consumers and our economy. We’re developing a more cohesive national research and innovation ecosystem, and this project represents the best of this collaboration. It brings together our research ecosystem, with academia, stakeholders, and government working together to support the needs of the sector and our young people, and the future of farming in Ireland.”
VistaMilk Phase II marks a significant boost to the local economy in North Cork, with the Centre set to recruit more than 130 personnel—most of whom will be based at Teagasc Moorepark. Building on the success of its first phase, which secured more than €20 million in competitive EU funding, VistaMilk has set a similar target for Phase II. This funding will play a critical role in driving forward world-class research and innovation while enhancing global engagement and collaboration. Industry backing remains strong, with over 50 partners contributing €12 million during the initial phase and continuing their support into the second phase. This investment reflects a balanced mix of local enterprise and foreign direct investment from leading multinational companies.
Director of Teagasc, Professor Frank O’Mara, welcomed the collaboration:
“Research is the backbone of progress in agriculture. At Teagasc, we are proud to support VistaMilk and its interdisciplinary approach to addressing the challenges and opportunities facing our dairy sector today. The outcomes from this centre are already influencing best practices on farms and informing national policy.”
VistaMilk Centre Director, Professor Donagh Berry, highlighted the vital role of technology and data. He said:
“To build a sustainable and competitive dairy industry, we must harness the capability of data and technology across every part of the soil to society chain. VistaMilk’s integrated research across soil, pasture, animal and food is driving a digital transformation that will shape the future of dairy production and processing in Ireland and beyond.”
Dr Siobhán Roche, Director of Science for the Economy at Research Ireland, commented:
“The importance of collaborative, mission-driven research in tackling complex societal and economic challenges such as climate change and food security cannot be over-emphasised. Research Ireland, through an investment of over €26 million under its Research Centres programme, is delighted to partner with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in supporting VistaMilk’s vision.”
VistaMilk brings together thirteen Irish research institutions with industry expertise from across the agri-food, ICT, and data science sectors to deliver advancements in precision agriculture, environmental sustainability, and dairy production and processing. These innovations are enhancing the efficiency, sustainability, and resilience of Ireland’s dairy industry, while supporting its position as a global leader in agri-tech research and innovation.
The launch event also featured live demonstrations of novel research tools and technologies developed by VistaMilk and its partners, showcasing how science and innovation are driving positive transformation within the dairy value chain.
Photo caption: Left-right: Professor Frank O’Mara, Director, Teagasc; Noel Grealish TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for Research; Donagh Berry, Director, VistaMilk Research Ireland Centre; Martin Heydon TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine; and Dr Siobhan Roche, Director, Research for the Economy, Research Ireland