What’s for dinner? Investigating plant-based routes to endorse a food transition towards a nutritious, affordable, and sustainable diet

Dr. Emanuele Zannini, School of Food and Nutritional Sciences

Impact: National, International

The Smart Protein project aims to industrially validate innovative, cost-effective, and resource-efficient, EU-produced, healthy plant proteins (fava bean, lentil, chickpea, quinoa) and microbial biomass proteins (food-grade yeast and fungi) to produce ingredients and products for direct human consumption. The project involves identifying legumes and protein crops cultivars fit for sustainable production, up-cycling the food side streams by using them as nutritious substrates for microbial biomass protein, and developing innovative bioprocessing strategies for sustainable protein extraction, fractionation processes and protein functionalisation. This research provides a new perspective and opportunities to the Irish agri-food sector on how to produce, process, and include alternative plant and single-cell proteins in a wide range of food and beverage products.

“ We are eager to produce more, better with less...”

– Dr. Emanuele Zannini

SDG 2 - Zero Hunger

• Target 2.1 - Universal access to safe and nutritious food
• Target 2.2 - End all forms of malnutrition
• Target 2.4 - Sustainable food production and resilient agricultural practices
• Target 2.5 - Maintain the genetic diversity in food production

SDG 1 - No Poverty

• Target 1.2 - Reduce poverty by at least 50%
  

SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

• Target 12.3 - Halve global per capita food waste
  
• Target 12.5 - Substantially reduce waste generation

Iron Deficiency Assessment for Protection of the Newborn Brain

Dr. Elaine McCarthy, School of Food and Nutritional Sciences & INFANT Research Centre

Impact: Local, National, International

Iron deficiency is the number one micronutrient deficiency in the world, with pregnant women and infants particularly vulnerable. This research aims to develop a first-of-its-kind screening strategy to facilitate the early detection of iron deficiency in pregnant woman and infants, providing an invaluable opportunity to prevent long-term damage to health. Anaemia is a major cause of morbidity in women of reproductive age. Iron deficiency is a leading cause of anaemia, affecting 2 billion people worldwide. Iron deficiency during pregnancy is especially concerning as it can result in preterm birth and a low birth weight infant, with damaging effects on fetal brain development also reported. The development of a screening strategy in our research to enable the early detection of iron deficiency in pregnant women and their infants will facilitate earlier treatment, resulting in a reduction in anaemia rates and ensuring the prevention of adverse health consequences for mother and infant.

There are currently no screening strategies for the early detection of iron deficiency in pregnant women and infants in Ireland. The preventive nutritional approach outlined in this research will benefit the health and wellbeing of the Irish population, by protecting the brain development of the next generation, leading to improved educational attainment, job potential and quality of life. This screening strategy will also aid the diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency in the clinical setting, a leading cause of malnutrition worldwide.

SDG 2 - Zero Hunger

• Target 2.1 - Universal access to safe and nutritious food
• Target 2.2 - End all forms of malnutrition (particularly indicator 2.2.3 which focuses on reducing the prevalence of anaemia in women aged 15 to 49 years)

SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being

• Target 3.1 - Reduce maternal mortality

An analysis of contract solutions for the sustainable delivery of agri-environmental climate public goods

Dr. Tracy Bradfield, Cork University Business School

Impact: International

Agri-environmental contracts have traditionally rewarded land managers for carrying out a particular action. However, these contracts often fail to incentivise land managers to focus on the success of their actions. This research is part of an EU Horizon 2020 project called CONSOLE which promotes the delivery of environmental climate public goods by agriculture and forestry through improving contractual solutions. This study examines different types of agri-environmental contracts in 15 EU countries to determine the factors that determine their implementation and success.

The aim of this research is to continuously support EU policy in its efforts to improve the long-term sustainability of agri-environmental public goods. The actions of land managers can benefit agri-environmental public goods such as biodiversity, air and water quality, soil quality and landscape scenery and this research seeks to determine the best form of contracts to encourage land managers to do so. Some innovative contracts offer financial payments for positive environmental actions that are based on results or collective action. Other contract options involve financial compensation through a price premium or reduced rent. This research examines the alternative contracts options available and the findings are discussed at stakeholder and practitioner dissemination events.

SDG 2 - Zero Hunger

• Target 2.4 - Sustainable food production and resilient agricultural practices

SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

• Target 12.2 - Sustainable management and use of natural resources
  

SDG 15 - Life on Land

• Target 15.2 - End deforestation and restore degraded forests
• Target 15.5 - Protect biodiversity and natural habitats

Developing an Innovation and Learning Platform for Enhanced Economic Opportunities and Resilience in Gergera Watershed: Action Research Programme

Dr. Nick Chisholm, Department of Food Business & Development, Cork University Business School & Centre for Global Development

Impact: National, International

This research focusses on a degraded watershed in the Tigray Region of northern Ethiopia. It is a joint collaboration between researchers from the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and UCC. The research aims to work with communities in the watershed to build more resilient livelihoods, with a strong focus on improving agro-forestry-based farming systems, improving nutrition of women and children, and women's empowerment. The research area is drought-prone, environmentally degraded, and food insecure; there are high rates of child malnutrition (stunting); women's nutritional and educational status is generally poor. There have been physical interventions to reduce levels of environmental degradation such as conservation structures, but there is a need to develop more resilient livelihood systems which mitigate climate impacts. The ICRAF researchers are developing agro-forestry-based solutions in collaboration with farmers.

UCC researchers have undertaken surveys in the watershed to gain a detailed understanding of household farming and livelihood systems, nutritional status of women and children, and levels of women's economic and nutritional empowerment. All of this analysis will enable the identification of climate-resilient livelihoods which also improve nutrition, and identify key institutional and other interventions to support women's empowerment. It is anticipated that there will be a dissemination event in Ireland to highlight some of the main findings of the research. The research approach has combined agro-ecological field-based research with socio-economic community-based research, using holistic approaches to provide an integrated understanding of livelihoods, focused on key issues of food security, malnutrition, women's empowerment and climate resilience. The research is supported by Irish Aid.

“The SDGs focus on the key global challenges we all face. They should not be taken in isolation. This project takes an integrated and multi-disciplinary approach to focus on a number of SDGs. Such approaches are needed to ensure the SDGs are translated into real improvements in people's lives and livelihoods on the ground.”

– Dr. Nick Chisholm

SDG 2 - Zero Hunger

SDG 5 - Gender Equality

SDG 15- Life on Land

Prevention and treatment of food borne pathogens

APC Microbiome Ireland

Impact: International

Illnesses such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease that make up inflammatory bowel disease affect over 3 million people in Europe alone. This research aims at identifying bacteria and archaea that are involved in food borne diseases. The particular research goals are to develop predictive models that best classify these diseases and to improve early diagnosis which can improve prognosis significantly. Another planned output of this research is identification of the most beneficial and effective clusters of bacteria that can later be developed into supplements and probiotics that can be used as a prophylactic measure in preventing food borne diseases. This research in computational aspects of microbiology creates and improves upon the currently available disease prediction and classification models. Looking at specific microorganisms that cause and are involved in food borne pathogens will lead to better control over water and sanitation, along with nutrition poverty. 

SDG 2 - Zero Hunger

SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being

SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation

Marine Biodiversity as Sustainable Resource of Disease-Suppressive Microbes and Bioprotectants for aquaculture and crop diseases (MARBLES)

Dr. Stephen Jackson, School of Microbiology

Impact: International

This research aims to address the urgent need for new treatments for aquaculture and crop diseases. It aims to discover novel small molecules and/or microbial consortia to (a) reduce the use of exogenous antibiotics in aquaculture systems while combating common diseases of farmed fish and (b) to develop novel small molecules and/or microbial consortia to treat plant crop rhizospheres to increase productivity and increase stress resistances. This work aims to combat common diseases in aquaculture and agriculture which will help to safeguard sustainable production of foods thereby working towards ending hunger. This will also ensure the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources and minimize the use of prophylactic antibiotics which result in the increased spread of antimicrobial resistance, including in food chains. Our efforts to combat fish diseases in aquaculture can help to reduce over-fishing by providing sustainable food sources.

This research aims to address two of humanity's extant and pending crises. Sustainable, responsible food production to reduce food poverty and the reduction in the irresponsible administration of prophylactic antibiotics in food production systems, which exacerbates the antimicrobial resistance crisis which is having increasing detrimental effect on human health outcomes. 

SDG 2 - Zero Hunger

• Target 2.1 - Universal access to safe and nutritious food
• Target 2.5 - Maintain the genetic diversity in food production

SDG 14 - Life Below Water

• Target 14.1 - Reduce marine pollution
• Target 14.4 - Sustainable fishing

SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

• Target 12.2 - Sustainable management and use of natural resources
• Target 12.4 - Responsible management of chemicals and waste