UNIVERSWATER Project Connects with Over 100 Farmers at Teagasc Open Day

 The UNIVERSWATER project marked a successful public engagement at the Teagasc Moorepark Open Day on July 2,2025. Project partners interacted with over 100 dairy farmers, highlighting new research aimed at solving critical challenges in dairy soil water management.

The Teagasc Moorepark Open Day is a premier event for the Irish agricultural community, showcasing cutting-edge research and technologies for a more sustainable and efficient dairy industry. Amidst discussions on breeding and grassland management, the UNIVERSWATER team presented a poster detailing the project’s goals and its focus on innovative water management solutions.

The response from the farming community was overwhelmingly positive, confirming that dairy soil water management is a significant and pressing issue. Farmers demonstrated a keen interest in the technologies being explored by the project, resulting in in-depth discussions throughout the day.

The engagement from the farmers was fantastic and confirmed the real-world need for this research. They received numerous specific questions, particularly concerning the required dimensioning and maintenance of constructed wetlands. This feedback is invaluable, as it directly validates the problems our research is setting out to solve.

Constructed wetlands are a nature-based solution for managing agricultural runoff, but practical data on their implementation remains a barrier for many farmers. The UNIVERSWATER project aims to bridge this knowledge gap by providing robust, data-driven answers to these very questions, empowering farmers with the tools and information they need to adopt more sustainable practices.

The insights gained from the open day will help steer the project’s research to ensure it delivers practical, impactful solutions for the Irish dairy sector and beyond.