About the Project
FARM-NC (Farm-level Natural Capital) is a research project working to create a transferable and adaptable framework for Whole-Farm Natural Capital Accounting in Ireland. Our goal is to support sustainable land use, improve biodiversity, reduce flood risk, and enhance climate resilience — while recognising and supporting farmers' right to farm.
By building farm-scale natural capital accounts, FARM-NC helps farmers integrate ecosystem services and nature-based solutions (NbS) into everyday decision-making. These accounts will also inform policy, enabling new economic and sustainability incentives for Irish farms.
Our Case Studies
FARM-NC focuses on three small to medium-sized farms across Ireland. These farms were selected for their diverse natural capital assets and their capacity to deliver critical ecosystem services, from carbon storage to water retention and habitat provision.
Research Objectives
- RO1: Co-develop tools with farmers to map, measure, monitor and evaluate farm-level natural capital and ecosystem services using UAVs, ecological assessments, and water monitoring.
- RO2: Produce detailed natural capital accounts for three case study farms, aligned with international standards such as the SEEA-EA and State-and-Transition Model.
- RO3: Demonstrate how natural capital accounting can improve farm profitability and long-term sustainability by quantifying its economic return on investment (ROI).
- RO4: Translate results into practical policy recommendations through direct engagement with policymakers and the publication of targeted policy briefs.
At the heart of FARM-NC is collaboration: farmers, researchers, and decision-makers working together to build a more sustainable and resilient agricultural future.
Meet the Team
Dr Jimmy O’Keeffe
PI and hydrologist at DCU, steering committee chair of Natural Capital Ireland. He led the VNiC-Health project and brings expertise in systems modelling, hydrology, and stakeholder engagement with farmers, policymakers, and communities.
Dr Mary Bourke
Professor at the Discipline of Geography, Trinity College, Dublin. She is an expert in hazards, flood geomorphology and NbS. She recently completed an OPW and EPA-Funded www.SloWaters.eu project.
Dr Niamh Cullen
Lecturer in Climate and Environmental Sustainability at DCU, geomorphologist and PI on the STRATA project. Experienced in UAV data acquisition, remote sensing, and citizen science through the ACCOMPLISH landslide monitoring project.
Dr Valerie McCarthy
Freshwater ecologist and lecturer at DCU. Former Director at CFES (DkIT), with a PhD from TCD. Valerie works with farmers and communities on water quality and is involved in EU Horizon, EPA, and MSCA research projects on ecosystem protection.
Dr Darren Clarke
Assistant Professor at DCU and PI on an EPA-funded climate adaptation project. He has advised on KPIs for Ireland’s Climate Action Plans and co-led national work on local government climate reporting and implementation strategy.
Felix Sinnott
Felix supports natural capital analysis and stakeholder engagement, with a focus on sustainable land use and nature-based solutions. He holds an MSc in Smart & Sustainable Cities from TCD, where he researched urban vertical farming.
Maya Clinton
Research Assistant at DCU and developer of FARM-NC’s and VNIC-Health's web platforms. Maya specialises in natural capital modelling, user-centered systems tools, and cross-disciplinary design that connects policy, data, and green infrastructure.
Contact
For inquiries, collaboration, or to learn more, please reach out at maya.clinton@dcu.ie.