News 2022

WATCH: Brainwaves researchers celebrate World Water Day

22 Mar 2022

Researchers from the UCC/Aberystwyth University Brainwaves project recently celebrated World Water Day. Brainwaves takes a circular economy approach to sustainable agriculture. 

Using a common aquatic plant known as duckweed, Brainwaves’ scientists are trialing innovative technological systems to grow duckweed on agricultural waste streams, which will, if successful, offer farmers the dual benefits of cleaning farm waste while also growing a high-protein crop.

In essence, through the up-take of excess nutrients (nitrates and phosphates), duckweed can create value from waste in the form of a high-protein biomass which can be used in animal feed, reducing farmers’ reliance on imported soybean. This research has the potential to bring tangible economic and environmental benefits to farming practices in Ireland, Wales, and beyond.

Brainwaves is a research project funded by the  European Regional Development Fund through the Ireland Wales Cooperation programme.  Brainwaves' university partners include the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences,  and the Environmental Research Institute along with the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences in Aberystwyth University in Wales. 
 

College of Science, Engineering and Food Science

Coláiste na hEolaíochta, na hInnealtóireachta agus na hEolaíochta Bia

Block E, Level 3, Food Science Building, UCC, Cork, T12 YN60.

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