Trinity School of Engineering’s Dr David O’Connell (Right), along with research collaborator Dr Suzanne Higgins from the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) in Northern Ireland (Left)

 

In May, Trinity School of Engineering’s Dr David O’Connell, along with research collaborator Dr Suzanne Higgins from the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) in Northern Ireland, was invited to deliver a presentation at Farmleigh House to government officials on the Duo-Biochar project at an Inter-trade Ireland event. 

The project, formally titled Dual-function engineered biochar for excess soil phosphorus sorption with subsequent slow release for cost-effective and sustainable crop production (Duo-Biochar), is supported under the US-Ireland Research and Development Partnership Programme. Funding is provided by Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs of Northern Ireland (DAERA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). 

Dr O’Connell, who is Principal Investigator for the Republic of Ireland, represented Trinity College Dublin at the event. The cross-border and transatlantic collaboration brings together expertise from Trinity, AFBI and Auburn University in the United States. 

Duo-Biochar focuses on developing engineered biochar that can capture excess phosphorus from soils and gradually release it to meet crop demand. The aim is to improve nutrient management, reduce environmental pressures, and promote more sustainable farming practices. 

Speaking about the project, Dr O’Connell said: 


 “It was a privilege to share our research with policymakers and to highlight the potential of biochar technology to address both agricultural productivity and environmental challenges. Collaborations like Duo-Biochar demonstrate the strength of the US-Ireland partnership in tackling shared issues.”