Engage@Teagasc Newsletter
A new year and a new look for the Teagasc Technology Transfer office!
We have adopted a new name Engage@Teagasc to reflect the breadth of support and services across #industrycollaboration, #entrepreneurship and #commercialisation that the team offers to Teagasc researchers, our external customers and collaborators, from companies to funders. #engageatTeagasc
We look forward to Engaging with you.
Teagasc Researcher/Entrepreneurial Profile: Susanne Barth – exploring commercialisation
Susanne is a Principal Research Officer with the Crops Science Department. Her research focuses on forage species, grass weeds and cereals. Her primary interests include; genetic resources (including in-situ conservation strategies), reproductive traits (self-incompatibility, flowering time, control of meiotic recombination), biomass yield and heterosis, quality traits like water soluble carbohydrates, abiotic stresses (flooding, cold and drought) and herbicide resistance in grass weeds.
Susanne identified a gap in the grass breeding market; the lack of true F1 perennial ryegrass hybrids. She and her colleague, Serguei Kouchnir, recognised that Teagasc’s proprietary Cytoplasmic Male Sterility lines of perennial ryegrass could be coupled with their expertise in genetic breeding techniques to consistently produce the elusive F1 perennial ryegrass hybrids. They applied for, and received funding from, the Teagasc #STARTFund to conduct a Freedom to Operate assessment and business canvas model for their proposed solution.
Following a favourable report, they embarked on a market analysis study, supported by Enterprise Ireland Research & Innovation Ireland’s Commercialisation Feasibility Fund. The hope was to subsequently apply for Commercialisation Funding to further develop the technology and ultimately bring F1 perennial ryegrass hybrids to the grass breeding market via a service delivery style spin out company. The results showed the market is not ready for such a service but that there are many other avenues through which the Industry would like to engage with Teagasc. The research team continues to progress the research to the next stages.
If you would like to find out more about Susanne's research, or explore commercial collaborations with the Teagasc Crops Science Department contact Sarah Cahalane, sarah.cahalane@teagasc.ie
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Meet the new team members of Engage@Teagasc:
January 2023 sees two new interns joining the Enagage@Teagasc Team; Rachel Ormond. Rachel is a third year BA Hons Business with HR student at SETU Careers Development Centre Waterford and has joined the team on a 6-month work placement. She will be assisting with optimising processes, organising events and supporting communications.
Industry Collaboration & Commercial Opportunities with Engage@Teagasc:
If your company would like to collaborate with Teagasc researchers to develop the new Agri-Food products and technologies of the future, or to enhance the sustainability of your existing product portfolio get in touch via techtransfer@teagasc.ie or check out our available Commercial Opportunities.
Upcoming Internal Events:
Engage@Teagasc Workshop - Johnstown Castle, 1st/ 2nd March
Our team will be in Johnstown Castle on the 1st and 2nd of March and will be hosting a researcher focused workshop aimed at helping researchers identify novel results and exploring how to maximize impact from your research through commercial engagement:
Keep an eye for more details in the coming weeks. #climateaction #sustainableinnovation #agtech