Loop Head successful in EIP Proposal around soil enhancement
PRESS RELEASE
on behalf of -
Loop Head Together CLG
12/5/25
“The Loop Head Peninsula at the forefront of agricultural sustainability research, following Government Announcement of €1.75 million to roll out Soil Enhancement Project”.
It has been a big week for the Loop Head Peninsula, West Clare, with the announcement of Loop Head Together CLG being awarded €1.75 million to conduct a soil carbon enhancement project to determine the feasibility of restoring soil health in coastal farming regions of Ireland.
It forms part of an overall investment of €17.8 million in eleven projects under the European Innovation Partnership, which forms part of the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan.
Coinciding with the current roll out of Loop Head’s involvement in Ireland Mid West’s Living Lab; a European funded project called Soilcrates, which is already underway, there was great excitement on the Loop Head Peninsula this week following the Government’s announcement of their support of this further project, now firmly placing Loop Head at the forefront of this exciting research around sustainability in agriculture.
Local Community Development group, Loop Head Together CLG, in collaboration with TUS (Technological University of the Shannon) through Dr Lena Madden, (Industry Research), and with the assistance of Consultant Laura Foley MSc, and Consultant Michelle Cooney submitted a European Innovation Partnership proposal to roll out a research project on the Loop Head Peninsula dedicated to soil carbon enhancement, a reduction in nutrient run offs, a reduction in the need for chemical fertilisers and the potential for circular bio economy solutions in agriculture.
In an extension of the overall mission to improve soil health, The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, co funded on this project by the European Union, made the welcome announcement; citing not only their support of the project, but pointing out how the project is highly relevant and aligns with the Departments priorities around soil health and the promotion of circular and bio economy.
The most important part of this project is that it will be carried out in conjunction with farmers on the ground – with the aim of improving not just the soil but also the long-term viability and sustainability of farming and agriculture generally.
With soil management and soil health literally being the foundation of environmental sustainability, these learnings have the potential to have very positive impacts on both the environment and agriculture across the country.
With the Loop Head Peninsula also already being the pilot decarbonizing zone for County Clare, Loop Head Together CLG were grateful to have the full support of Clare County Council and in particular, Morgan Lahiffe and the wider Climate Action Team, when it came to putting together this proposal for Loop Head.
The proposal will also see support from UCD, MTU, Premier Green, Kracken Seeds, EIT Climate, Arigna Fuels, the ICOS and agricultural consultants Damien Coyne Ltd.
Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Fianna Fáil Deputy Timmy Dooley, cited the project as a way of… “exploring and demonstrating best practice across the country in terms of sustainable farming”.
He went on to describe the … “economic impact of developing better systems for farmers and doing so in a way that doesn’t damage the long-term viability of the farm or the soil”
“Research projects like these” he continued, “puts our farming community at the forefront of such findings, meaning that farming is protected going forward”.
Fine Gael Deputy, Joe Cooney, was also very complimentary of the community on the Loop Head Peninsula. “I’m delighted to see the Loop Head Together organisation getting acknowledged at Dept level in this way, for the innovative and strategic approach they have taken in tackling some of the challenges that face coastal farming communities. I look forward to engaging with them as they progress the project.”
This project, rolling out under the working title of SCEENE (Soil Carbon Enhancement for Excess Nutrient Elimination) will still be pending final clarifications and signing of contracts, but would hope to move towards implementation across the coming months.
Margaret Cotter, Chairperson of Loop Head Together CLG, welcomed the Government Announcement. “Our goal with this project as a group is to support our local farming community in finding solutions to the challenges presented by climate change,” said Ms Cotter. “The two principal economic drivers in Loop Head are tourism and agriculture and we are acutely aware as a community of the need to support both to ensure the sustainability of our locality into the future”.
Ms Cotter went on to point out that the project would not have been possible without Loop Head Together’s ongoing collaboration with TUS and in particular Dr Lena Madden. “Lena has brought with her the extensive expertise of her colleagues and friends who form the operational group for the project. We are also very grateful to the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine for selecting us in this competitive process”.
Loop Head Together CLG would like to thank their local community on Loop Head for always supporting their efforts to work together towards protecting our farms, our environment and in promoting the potential for circular bioeconomy solutions that will help keep our rural communities thriving into the future.
END
For further information:
Loop Head Together CLG – loopheadtogether@gmail.com
Margaret Cotter, Chairperson Loop Head Together CLG – (087) 9105065
Dr Lena Madden TUS – (087) 6683079
