The project will focus more on the usage of natively grown cereals in the Irish drinks sector. Credit: Adam Jaime on Unsplash.

Ireland’s Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM) has awarded a grant of €856,746 for a brewing and distilling research project.

Drinks Ireland, a representative body for alcoholic drinks manufacturers and suppliers in Ireland, welcomed the funding.

Drinks Ireland director Patricia Callan said: “Ireland’s drinks industry has the ambition to become a world leader in innovation and sustainability and access to cutting-edge research is critical to achieving this goal.

“This will require government, academia and industry all working together. This funding announcement by government represents a major step forward, strengthening our ambition to utilise as many inputs as possible from Irish farmers.

The four-year project is the result of a partnership between Teagasc, TU Dublin, UCC and IT Carlow.

Under the project, the organisations aim to use natively grown cereals, such as wheat rye and spelt in the Irish drinks sector.

Upon completion of the project, the data gathered during the four years will focus on supporting the application of natively produced grain in the country’s industry.

The research project will also help identify higher value end uses for the waste streams from the sector.

Callan added: “We wish to congratulate Teagasc, TU Dublin, UCC and IT Carlow on their leadership and foresight in putting together their brewing and distilling research network and we wish to thank Minister Creed for his support for this initiative.”