Thomas Lyons 
Dr. Sara Vero, an assistant lecturer in agricultural science at the South East Technological University (SETU), has been appointed as a new funded investigator at the VistaMilk SFI Research Centre in Co. Cork. VistaMilk is a €40 million research facility based at Teagasc Moorepark, which is jointly funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). The centre aims to develop and deploy new knowledge, technologies, and support tools to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of the entire dairy production chain. VistaMilk is focused on four inter-dependent thematic areas: soil, pasture, cow, and food. The staff at the facility have expertise across biological sciences, sensor-systems, communications and networking, data analytics, and food processing.
Dr. Sara Vero has an extensive background in agriculture and soil sciences. She holds a degree in agricultural science, a master’s degree from University College Dublin (UCD), and a PhD in civil engineering on the topic of soil science and hydrology from the National University of Ireland, Galway. Dr. Vero also conducted a post-doctorate at Kansas State University in the US looking at prairie hydrology and has worked with the Teagasc Agricultural Catchments Program and the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute. In her new role at VistaMilk, she will further her research on soil, particularly nutrient management, and timing of operations including slurry spreading and grazing.
Dr. Vero is collaborating with partners in the Walton Institute and Met Éireann, evaluating patterns of soil moisture and how they influence suitable dates for slurry application across Ireland. The research aims to provide more precise estimates of ground conditions, which can inform any future changes to regulations around slurry application. Dr. Vero is currently investigating how soil structure influences phosphorus availability with PhD student Patricia Roche. They are running grass trials across different soil indices and structures, along with runoff experiments, and soil structural analyses in the laboratory.
Speaking about her new role at VistaMilk, Dr. Sara Vero said: “This is a huge opportunity for me to further my work on key soil-related challenges faced by the dairy sector. By working with researchers from the Walton Institute, my research on soil-moisture is being upscaled from field to national-scale, which means we can contribute to better informed policy and boots-on-the-ground decision-making. I’m also really excited to develop projects with the grassland researchers located in the other VistaMilk host institutes so that we can investigate the continuum of impacts from what we do to the soil, through its effects on the sward, to the final Irish dairy food product.”
Dr. Vero believes that we need to “work smarter, not harder” when it comes to soil and resource management. “In Ireland, we have substantial natural advantages when it comes to pasture-based production. By carefully identifying needs and opportunities at farm-scale, we can help to make the most of these attributes,” she said. Donagh Berry, director of VistaMilk, nominated Dr. Vero as a funded investigator and added: “Soil is a hugely important asset for Irish agriculture. No one is more aware of this than farmers themselves who are custodians of our natural habitats. Sara’s exciting and innovative research will add to the armory of tools at the disposal of Irish farmers for sustaining their commitment to producing environmentally benign, safe, and nutritious dairy products.”
The VistaMilk SFI Research Centre is a significant asset to the Irish dairy industry. It is focused on developing and deploying new knowledge, technologies, and support tools to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of the entire dairy production chain. The research facility is jointly funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). The centre is focused on four inter-dependent thematic areas: soil, pasture, cow, and food. The staff at the facility have expertise across biological sciences, sensor-systems, communications and networking, data analytics, and food processing.
Dr. Sara Vero, who has been appointed as a new funded investigator at the VistaMilk SFI Research Centre, is an assistant lecturer in agricultural science at the South East Technological University (SETU). She has an extensive background in agriculture and soil sciences, holding a degree in agricultural science, a master’s degree from University College Dublin (UCD), and a PhD in civil engineering on the topic of soil science and hydrology from the National University of Ireland, Galway. Dr. Vero’s research at VistaMilk will focus on soil, particularly nutrient management, and timing of operations including slurry spreading and grazing.
Dr. Vero is collaborating with partners in the Walton Institute and Met Éireann, evaluating patterns of soil moisture and how they influence suitable dates for slurry application across Ireland. Her research aims to provide more precise estimates of ground conditions, which can inform any future changes to regulations around slurry application. Dr. Vero is currently investigating how soil structure influences phosphorus availability with PhD student Patricia Roche. They are running grass trials across different soil indices and structures, along with runoff experiments, and soil structural analyses in the laboratory.
Dr. Sara Vero believes that we need to “work smarter, not harder” when it comes to soil and resource management. “In Ireland, we have substantial natural advantages when it comes to pasture-based production. By carefully identifying needs and opportunities at farm-scale, we can help to make the most of these attributes,” she said. Donagh Berry, director of VistaMilk, nominated Dr. Vero as a funded investigator and added: “Soil is a hugely important asset for Irish agriculture. No one is more aware of this than farmers themselves who are custodians of our natural habitats. Sara’s exciting and innovative research will add to the armory of tools at the disposal of Irish farmers for sustaining their commitment to producing environmentally benign, safe, and nutritious dairy products.”
In conclusion, Dr. Sara Vero’s appointment as a funded investigator at the VistaMilk SFI Research Centre is a significant step forward for the Irish dairy industry. Her research on soil, particularly nutrient management, and timing of operations including slurry spreading and grazing, will provide more precise estimates of ground conditions, which can inform any future changes to regulations around slurry application. Dr. Vero’s expertise in agriculture and soil sciences will be a valuable asset to the VistaMilk team as they work towards maximizing the efficiency and effectiveness of the entire dairy production chain.
