The CLIFF-GRADS program – a joint initiative of the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA) and Mitigate+: Research for Low Emissions Food Systems (Mitigate+) – strives to narrow the capacity gap on climate change research in the Global South. It offers doctoral students from low- and middle-income countries opportunities to enhance their research skills. A network of 176 researchers from 37 countries has emerged from CLIFF-GRADS; several have taken up roles in international initiatives relevant to climate mitigation in agricultural systems.
GODAN
Latest News
This second call is open for submission of proposals until 28 July 2023.
On 10 May 2023, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for research and innovation Martin Heydon, joined the New Zealand Minister for Agriculture, Damien O’Connor M.P. to launch the second Ireland – New Zealand Joint Research Call on agriculture and climate change. The two Ministers made the announcement following a bilateral meeting held during the Agricultural Innovation Mission for Climate Summit in Washington DC.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries launched the first joint call in 2022, following the signing of a Memorandum of Arrangement between both organisations in May 2022. This provided for the establishment a 3-year pilot Joint Research Initiative (JRI) over the period 2022 to 2024 in recognition of the strong existing research connections and the common challenges facing the agri-food sectors in both Ireland and New Zealand. Over €7 million in joint funding was awarded to four research projects in the 2022 Call.
Full press release HERE
2023 Ireland – New Zealand Joint Research Call
The 2023 Joint Research Call between Ireland and New Zealand opened on 10 May 2023 at 12:00 (IST) and invites eligible Research Performing Organisations (RPOs) from Ireland to submit joint research proposals, with collaborating partners from New Zealand.
There are four research topics in the Call:
- Topic 1: Land management on organic agricultural soils to support the development of GHG mitigation and Carbon sequestration
- Topic 2: Refinement of agricultural GHG emissions inventories through the development of emission factors for Methane, Nitrous Oxide and Carbon Dioxide
- Topic 3: Identification and development of technologies for the mitigation of greenhouse gases from ruminant systems
- Topic 4: Digitalisation and data to support climate-related action and management practices in agriculture
More details can be found here: Ireland – New Zealand Joint Research Mechanism
Two webinars for applicants will be held jointly by DAFM and the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) for interested Irish and New Zealand researchers to provide an overview about all relevant aspects of the Call and provide time to answer open questions. These will be held on:
- 18th May 2023 at 10:00 NZT (webinar hosted by MPI for New Zealand applicants)
- 25th May 2023 at 10:00 IST (webinar hosted by DAFM for Irish applicants – register here)
The Irish financial support for the 2023 Ireland-New Zealand Joint Research Call is being provided through the DAFM Research Programme
Call Timeline
The Joint Research Call follows a one-stage submission procedure with a deadline for the submission of full proposals on 28th July 2023 . Indicative Research Call timelines are outlined below.
| 10 May 2023 at 12:00 IST | Launch of the Joint Research Call |
| 18th May 2023 at 10:00 NZT | Webinar for potential applicants |
| 25th May 2023 at 10:00 IST | Webinar for potential applicants |
| 28th July 2023 | Submission Deadline for proposals |
| October 2023 | Communication of Funding Decision |
| November 2023 | Funding awarded and announcement of successful projects |
| Jan 2024 to Mar 2024 | Estimated Starting Date for Funded Projects |
Closing date: 19 May 2023
Location: Technical University of Munich, Germany
Click on the titles below, or download the relevant files, to learn more about the positions and how to apply.
Postdoctoral position (m/f/d) modelling livestock systems
This research project will study the productivity of livestock, grasslands and key links to biogeochemical cycles. We conduct both empirical and modelling work in the Gran Chaco of Argentina through collaboration with researchers from the National Research Council (CONICET), and in Kenya and Tanzania in collaboration with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), and other African and European research partners.
PhD position (m/f/d) Nutrient cycling and carbon storage in grazed systems
This doctoral research project will study productivity grasslands and key links to nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration and and species diversity. The field work will take place in the dry forest ecosystem of the Gran Chaco of Argentina, in collaboration with researchers from CONICET, the Argentinean national research council.
PhD position (m/f/d) Tropical grasslands restoration
This doctoral position will generate empirical evidence to understand the functioning of grazing systems in Kenya where livestock graze with large mammals. This research project will examine the potential to use grazing duration and intensity and manipulation of plant species to assess the potential for grassland restoration. The experiments will assess the effects of grazing on productivity and stability of grasslands, aiming to detect early restoration success. This work is conducted in close collaboration with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), and their network of partners.
October 2022
XXI International N Workshop
Agro-food systems are fuelled by nitrogen. About 80% of this valuable resource is lost to the environment before reaching our plates. We refer to this loss as nitrogen waste. The ambitious goal of halving nitrogen waste by 2030 requires important coordination of many actors: multidisciplinary scientists, farmers, industry, policy-makers, NGOs, and consumers. The XXI International N Workshop will contribute to this challenge by welcoming contributions dealing with different spatial scales (from the plot to global) and system scopes (crop, livestock,…
Find out more »AgroEco2022 Conference
The 4th International Scientific Conference AgroEco2022: 'Agroecosystem Sustainability: Links between Carbon Sequestration in Soils, Food Security and Climate Change' will be held at Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy (VMU AA), Lithuania, on October 26–27th, 2022. Main scientific topics of the Conference: Soil health and carbon sequestration for sustainabilitySoil and crop management towards a chemical pesticide-free agricultureBiodiversity, crop and production diversificationPrecision farming and digital technologiesFood quality and safetyClimate change mitigation Learn more HERE. REGISTRATION until September 30th. Late registration until October…
Find out more »
Webinar: Policies in pursuit of a low emission agri-food sector
This event is part of the OECD COP27 Virtual Pavilion. The agriculture and food sector (agri-food sector) is vulnerable to climate change and at the same time also a significant sources of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Reducing GHG emissions from the agri-food sector will be important in moving towards net-zero targets. There are various opportunities for the agri-food sector to reduce GHG emissions, yet the sector faces many complex challenges and lags behind others on climate change commitments and…
Find out more »November 2022
Webinar: Introducing the GRA Flagship Projects (II)
Join the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA) on Thursday 3 November at 10am UTC for the second session in our Flagship Project webinar series. Learn more about two of the current GRA Flagship Projects, their key partners and how YOU could get involved. GRA Flagship Projects develop new knowledge to better understand agricultural greenhouse gases, have global relevance and applicability and generate high scientific impact. This session will introduce the following two Flagship Projects: Development of context-specific…
Find out more »Webinar: Wetlands – crucial for national climate commitments
The organisation of this event is being led by Wetlands International. The panelists and speakers will discuss the inclusion of wetlands, in particular peatlands and mangroves in climate commitments, such as the Nationally Determined Contributions, NDCs. The event will: highlight the crucial role of wetlands, in particular peatlands and mangroves, in achieving national climate goals,share insights and lessons learned on countries’ inclusion of wetlands into their climate commitments, including with the Global Peatlands Initiative,launch a summary brief and share the…
Find out more »
Webinar: Future Farm Systems – shaping a low-emissions future for agriculture
Join the NZAGRC for the next of their State of Science webinars, this time focused on their research into options for mitigating agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. Topic: Future Farm Systems Programme - shaping a low-emissions future for agriculture Presenter: Erica van Reenen (AgFirst) and Lee Matheson (Perrin Ag) Chair: Nicky Hyslop (Farmer Director, Beef + Lamb New Zealand Board and member of the NZAGRC’s Stakeholder Advisory Group) In mid-2022, after a year-long scoping phase, the NZAGRC launched a new ‘Future…
Find out more »
Webinar: Predicting Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics in Long-term Agricultural Experiments
Join the GRA Croplands Research Group for their next webinar titled "Predicting Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics in Long-term Agricultural Experiments Using the CQESTR Model" presented by Dr Hero Gollany (USDA). Register HERE.
Find out more »December 2022
Training of Trainers on Digital Climate Advisory Services (DCSA) in West Africa
The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) in Partnership with the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) is putting together the “Training of Trainers on Digital Climate Advisory Services (DCSA) in West Africa”. The training is scheduled as follows:- Date: December 8th and 9th 2022- Time: 09:00 am Greenwich Mean Time Kindly register for this training using the zoom link HERE. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the training. Training Conditions: 1. The trainee…
Find out more »Webinar: Implementing climate action through peatlands
Join Wetlands International and their collaborators for the 2nd session in their webinar series on peatlands and climate commitments. The webinar will discuss how to implement peatland-related climate commitments (including those contained in NDCs and LTS), empowering countries to implement climate action in peatland landscapes, taking into account the many tools and resources available, good practices and lessons learned. Case examples from different regions will be presented. There will also be an ‘Ask the Expert’ space allocated, where you will…
Find out more »Webinar: ReGenerative Grazing as a Soil, Climate, and Livelihoods Solution
Join the international “4 per 1000” Initiative and their partners from Soil4Climate for their upcoming webinar titled “ReGenerative Grazing as a Soil, Climate, and Livelihoods Solution: The Science, Practice and Policy” on Wednesday 14 December at 17:00 UTC. The event will look at the science, practices and policies of regenerative grazing as a soil, climate, and livelihoods solution. Particular attention will be given to grasslands, soils, and pastoral people and agriculturally dependent communities. You can find the Zoom link and…
Find out more »January 2023
Joint CRG & IRG Meeting
The GRA Croplands and Integrative Research Group are holding a joint meeting in Seville, Spain on the 17th and 18th of January 2023. The joint meeting will be held before the IX Congreso Internacional de Agroecología in Seville, Spain, which runs from 19-21 January 2023. The abstract submission deadline is 15 October 2022. The IX Congreso Internacional de Agroecología will have sessions in any of the following languages: English, Portuguese and Spanish, but without simultaneous translation. This is an invitation…
Find out more »February 2023
Webinar: “Rethinking Tools To Assess Impacts From Dairy Farms Beyond GHG Emissions”
The GRA Farm to Regional Scale Integration Network are very happy to invite you to their upcoming webinar on the topic “Rethinking Tools To Assess Impacts From Dairy Farms Beyond Greenhouse Gas Emissions”: Date: Thursday, 9th February 2023 Hours: 15.00 – 16.00 CET (GMT+1) Registration link: https://thuenen.webex.com/weblink/register/r5f531793c543000711c641cda7d2a586 Agenda: After the webinar, we are offering an optional 30 minutes Deep Dive Session (16.00 – 16.30 CET) with some of the speakers to discuss further open questions. We are very much looking forward to welcoming many…
Find out more »