Location: Rotal College of Physicians of Ireland, Kildare St, Dublin 2
Event Website: http://www.ucd.ie/earth
Start Date: 05/06/2009
End Date: 05/06/2009
Dr. Fiona Doohan, UCD School of Biology & Environmental Science - Crop plants underpin Irish agriculture, food production and environmental management. Irish-grown potatoes and oats are used as human food. Barley feeds the brewing industry, while grass, cereals and maize are a major source of food for our cattle industry. Other crops, such as oilseed, underpin our growing biofuel industry. Crop management and productivity is dependent on environmental conditions. Climate change models predict increasing precipitation, flooding and temperature in Ireland. If this prediction holds true, the future will present opportunities to enhance the production of cereals and to produce alternative crops in Ireland, but it will also lead to reduced grass and potato production. New crops and a changing environment will bring new disease problems, input requirements and environmental impacts. For more details see the event website.