Teagasc to Host National Water Quality Conference

Teagasc will host a National Water Quality Conference on Wednesday, 29 October at the Heritage Hotel in Killenard, County Laois. The event will focus on water quality policy and regulatory challenges for Irish agriculture and will highlight science, practical solutions, and farmer support.

The conference is part of the Better Farming for Water campaign and will bring together policymakers, scientists, advisors, and farmers. It aims to address the growing need for sustainable water management practices and explore ways to improve water quality in agricultural landscapes.

Speakers will focus on three main areas. The first is water quality policy and regulation. Presentations will cover EU and national policy drivers, pressures on water quality in Ireland, and updates on the sixth Nitrates Action Programme and Nitrates Derogation renewal.

The second theme is catchment science in practice. Teagasc researchers will showcase how scientific research is used to assess and improve water quality, with lessons from the Agricultural Catchments Programme and examples from New Zealand.

The third theme focuses on supporting farmers. Advisory and research teams will present tools and programmes that help farmers take practical, cost-effective steps to improve water quality. Sessions will cover targeted advisory support, the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme, the Farming for Water European Innovation Partnership, slurry and soiled water management, and modelling the impact of Nitrates Action Programme measures from 2017 to 2025.

Professor Pat Dillon, Teagasc Director of Research, said improving water quality requires collaboration between researchers, advisory bodies, regulators, and local communities. He described the conference as a platform to bring these groups together and identify practical solutions.

Tim Hyde, Environment Specialist at Teagasc, said the conference will focus on evidence-based and achievable solutions led by farmers. He added that farmers take pride in protecting the streams and rivers that flow through their farms and communities.

Noel Meehan, Head of Teagasc’s Water Quality Knowledge Transfer Department, said the Better Farming for Water campaign is helping farmers adopt measures to improve all water bodies where agriculture is a significant pressure. He said there is strong engagement from farmers, industry, and other stakeholders in the sector.