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Project Code [22/NCF/FD/10947]

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Project title

Towards a Systems-based Digital Platform for Agricultural Land Use Planning, Management Decision and Inventory Reporting (HOLOS-IE)

Primary Funding Agency

Science Foundation Ireland

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

Lead Organisation

University College Dublin

Lead Applicant

Not listed

Project Abstract

Based on the EU and Irish Climate Action Plan to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, the major challenge is the complex and highly variable agricultural sector requiring labour-intensive measurements/monitoring to assess greenhouse gases (GHGs)/carbon footprint and environmental pollution. Modelling provides the best approach to predict and evaluate the wider impact of agricultural ecosystems on the GHG balance, mitigation, and offsetting options whilst sustaining production but limited by whole/mixed farming coverage and a suitable digital platform for general use. This project will develop an integrated landscape/systems-level digital platform (Holos-IE) using programming languages and software (e.g., GIS, C# and API) to rewrite/replace country-specific land uses, soils and climate data, algorithms/response functions, and emission factors in the Holos v4.0 (widely used Canadian model), already tested in Ireland. It is to provide systems-based alternate land use/management options and climate change scenarios to assess the GHG and C-balance, independent emission factors, and CO2e, with an opportunity to recommend best approaches for sustainable integrated farming including forestry/agroforestry and policy decisions whilst accounting for environmental and socioeconomic concerns. For the first time, it is designed for use by farmers, stakeholders, academic/researcher, and national inventory team for reporting to mitigate climate change and adaptation, and sustainable agricultural production.

Grant Approved

�258,071.00

Research Hub

Climate Change

Research Theme

1. Carbon Stocks, GHG Emissions, Sinks and Management Options

Start Date

01/01/2023

Initial Projected Completion Date

30/06/2024