• A new multi-year PhD research programme will investigate employment dynamics in Irish dairy farming
• The research will focus on employee experiences, farm-level human resource management practices, technology use on dairy farms and generational renewal
• The PhD doctorate will be overseen by VistaMilk and supported by funding from FRS Co-Op

FRS Co-Op and VistaMilk Research Ireland Centre have signed a new collaboration agreement to support a PhD doctorate to investigate employment dynamics in Irish dairy farming with a focus on people, productivity, technology and generational renewal.

The multi-year PhD programme will involve dedicated research to understand how employee experiences, farm-level human resource management practices, and technology use interact on Irish dairy farms. Importantly, the PhD research will also examine the economic contribution of hired labour of Irish dairy farms; not simply as a cost, but as a strategic input that can drive productivity and profitability.

The research for the PhD thesis will be overseen through the VistaMilk Research Ireland Centre, which is hosted by Teagasc at its Moorepark campus in Cork, while the funding for the PhD programme is being provided by FRS Co-Op, which specialises in employment, recruitment and training services.

The collaboration between FRS Co-Op and VistaMilk comes after a period of development on Irish dairy farms since the abolition of EU milk quotas a decade ago, which has increased the dependency on hired labour.

The increasingly competitive labour market is adding to traditional challenges for Irish dairy farms in recruiting and retaining skilled workers. Anecdotal and empirical evidence point to variable employment conditions, limited career progression, and inconsistent management practices as further contributing factors.

These labour issues are closely linked to the relatively underdeveloped use of structured people management practices on Irish farms, where staff development, performance evaluation, and employee retention practices are not yet widely or consistently applied.

Meanwhile, Irish dairy farms have adopted labour-saving technologies to reduce physical workload and improve operational efficiency. However, investment decisions to adopt new technologies are often driven by the goal of reducing labour input rather than supporting long-term workforce development.

The new PhD doctorate overseen by VistaMilk and supported by FRS Co-Op will focus on understanding the evolving nature of employment on Irish dairy farms.

The research will examine the experiences and challenges faced by employees, how workforce management practices are influencing farm performance, and the ways in which new technologies can help make the sector a more attractive place to work. It will also evaluate the broader economic contribution of employed labour to dairy farms.

The schedule of research work for the PhD doctorate will commence in Q4 2025 with a final thesis expected to be published by 2029.

Neil Keane, Head of Agriculture at FRS Co-Op, said:

“FRS Co-Op is delighted to partner with VistaMilk to support this important PhD research work. The expansion of Irish dairy over the last decade has seen many farms become increasingly reliant on employed labour to handle the increased workload. However, the economic value of employed labour is often underappreciated and generally framed as a cost to be minimised on farms.”

“As the largest employer of farm labour in all of Europe, FRS Co-Op is uniquely positioned to help support this important research, which will help Irish dairy farms attract, manage, and retain a skilled and motivated workforce into the future.”

Professor Frank O’ Mara, Director of Teagasc, said:

“We are delighted to be partnering with FRS Co-Op on this PhD doctorate to examine employment dynamics in Irish dairy farming. Farms have changed significantly in recent decades as scale has increased, seasonal labour demands have intensified, and workplace expectations continue to evolve.

“Attracting, developing and retaining skilled people is vital to strengthen competitiveness, enhance farming’s attractiveness as a career, and secure the long-term environmental sustainability sector.”

Francis Fitzgerald, Chairman of FRS Co-Op, said:

“At a time when Irish agriculture is seeking to improve generation renewal on farms, the PhD collaboration between FRS Co-Op and VistaMilk will provide peer-reviewed research insights that will help improve employment conditions on farms, support career progression and aid farmers in the adoption of human resource management practices.”

“Farming is an extremely attractive career that offers people the chance to work outdoors with animals and nature, while affording an excellent quality of life. I’m delighted that FRS Co-Op are partnering with VistaMilk on this PhD as it will help inform how we continue to attract a new generation into farming.

Professor Donagh Berry, Director of VistaMilk, said:

“This collaboration with FRS Co-Op highlights the vital role of people in the future of Irish dairy farming – a critical but often overlooked dimension. By exploring how workforce practices and technology interact, this PhD will deliver evidence-based insights to help farms improve productivity, job satisfaction and long-term sustainability.”