Promising news for more sustainable farming! At a time when farmers are under increasing pressure to produce more food for growing populations, and in a sustainable way, researchers at Trinity College Dublin have found a clear and cost-effective method to reduce the use of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser in farming while increasing the amount of grass we can grow to feed animals. Trinity Professor of Statistics, Caroline Brophy and PhD candidate, James O’Malley tell us about their results of their paper published today in the journal Science - one of the world’s most trusted and prestigious scientific journals. As part of the LegacyNet project, a large-scale international and interdisciplinary study, they looked at the benefits of using a multi-species mixture in grassland planting. They have now conclusively proven that higher plant diversity increases the yield of grass, and with lower inputs of nitrogen fertiliser. Their exciting solution means a saving in costs and an increas...