Ireland leads major European grassland research project
An €8 million Horizon Europe initiative, GrassWise, commenced its first meeting at Teagasc Moorepark, marking a significant step in grassland science innovation. The project spans 13 countries and aims to enhance grassland management through extensive data integration and farmer collaboration.
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Teagasc Agricultural News
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⏱️ 1 min read
The ambitious €8 million GrassWise Project, funded by Horizon Europe, held its inaugural meeting on 3rd November 2026 at the Teagasc Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre in Moorepark, Fermoy, County Cork. This four-year research and innovation programme involves 20 organisations across 13 European countries and New Zealand, aiming to improve grassland management and sustainability.
GrassWise focuses on generating and benchmarking grassland data across nine distinct European pedoclimatic zones, utilising partner farmer networks, satellite technology, and advanced decision-support tools. The project engages 135 partner farms and nine communities of practice to develop an integrated European grassland data platform that supports multifunctionality and promotes low-emission, circular farming methods.
At the launch, Billy Kelleher MEP highlighted the under-recognised value of grasslands, which cover 34% of the EU's agricultural land, emphasising Ireland's leadership role in grassland science. Professor Michael O’Donovan, project coordinator, described GrassWise as a unique endeavour to measure and benchmark grasslands with long-term datasets for farmers. Dr Deirdre Hennessy of University College Cork added that the project aligns with EU sustainability targets by enhancing productivity, biodiversity, and nutrient efficiency in grassland-based livestock systems. More details about GrassWise and its partners are available at www.grasswise.eu.
GrassWise focuses on generating and benchmarking grassland data across nine distinct European pedoclimatic zones, utilising partner farmer networks, satellite technology, and advanced decision-support tools. The project engages 135 partner farms and nine communities of practice to develop an integrated European grassland data platform that supports multifunctionality and promotes low-emission, circular farming methods.
At the launch, Billy Kelleher MEP highlighted the under-recognised value of grasslands, which cover 34% of the EU's agricultural land, emphasising Ireland's leadership role in grassland science. Professor Michael O’Donovan, project coordinator, described GrassWise as a unique endeavour to measure and benchmark grasslands with long-term datasets for farmers. Dr Deirdre Hennessy of University College Cork added that the project aligns with EU sustainability targets by enhancing productivity, biodiversity, and nutrient efficiency in grassland-based livestock systems. More details about GrassWise and its partners are available at www.grasswise.eu.
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