Tellus Border Soil Sampling Contract Awarded to OCAE Ltd., Co. Meath Consultancy
Press Release _ September 2011_Further Boost for Local Environmental Sector
Tellus Border Soil Sampling Contract Awarded to Co. Meath Consultancy
- Sampling programme to begin immediately in Co Donegal
Agri-environmental consultancy OCAE Consultants Ltd has been awarded contracts to the value of over €250,000 as part of a groundbreaking geological project which will provide vitally important data to help manage Ireland’s natural resources.
The Co. Meath-based consultancy has won contracts to deliver the soil, sediment and water sampling elements of the Tellus Border Project, a major EU-funded mapping project of Ireland’s six border counties - Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth.
Up 16 field staff in teams of two were deployed to begin the survey in the Inishowen Peninsula of Co. Donegal last week. The sampling team will move in a southern direction across the region between now and Christmas 2011 collecting samples from upwards of 7,000 sites for analysis, covering 12,300 km2. Although field teams do not have land registry information, they are making every effort to gain permission before entering land on the day of the sampling.
David O’Connell from OCAE said: “We are delighted to have been awarded these contracts for this extremely exciting and innovative project. We see this project as being significant in adding to the scientific dataset for the country and also in creating jobs and opportunities for people from a range of disciplines, especially agriculture and environmental science. “
“We will be working closely with the Geological Surveys of
Ray Scanlon from the Geological Survey of Ireland said, “The samples collected across this region will be analysed for up to 55 elements and compounds providing invaluable data on the make up if the rocks, soils and waters which will be of benefit environmentally, agriculturally and economically to the border region.”
"The sampling team will carry identification and their vehicles will be branded with the Tellus Border logo so landowners can be assured of their authenticity. However if you are concerned about this or are interested in finding out more about the project you can contact our helpline on 1800 303 516 or visit www.tellusborder.eu.”
The Tellus Border Project is a continuation of the successful Tellus Project in
The cross-border Tellus Border project has been funded by the INTERREG IVA development programme of the European Regional Development Fund, which is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). This is the largest of the latest awards under the Environment theme of INTERREG IVA and is part funded by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and Northern Ireland’s Department of the Environment.
ENDS
For further information please contact Kelly Mckee or Claire Bonner at Morrow Communications on 02890 393837 or k.mckee@morrowcommunications.com
OCAE announces take over of IAS Laboratories.
OCAE Consultants Limited is pleased to announce it has taken ownership of Independent Analytical Supplies (IAS) Ltd and with this move will provide an enhanced range of services to its farmer and agri-industry clients.
Based in Enfield, Co Meath, OCAE provides a range of consultancy and research services in the areas of agricultural advice, environmental compliance and agri-environmental research to an expanding range of national and international clients. Services to farmers include REPS planning, nitrates advice, nutrient management planning, soil management advice, crop consultancy, animal nutrition and farm management advice. Services to agri food, industry and Local Authority clients include environmental compliance relating to IPPC Licences and Waste Management Permits. In particular OCAE specialise in the recycling of organic materials to land. OCAE liase closely with many government agencies including the Department’s of Agriculture and Environment and the Environmental Protection Agency. The firm’s industry clients include meat, dairy and food processors, composters and local authorities. OCAE also have a number of international clients mainly in the UK, Germany and France.
The firm has been in operation since 1998 and employs eight agricultural graduates and four environmental and science graduates.
IAS Ltd is based in Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow and currently employs seven people.
IAS was established in 2001, to carry on the business formerly run by Independent Analytical Services Ltd.
IAS supplies an independent agricultural and environmental analytical service to clients. The laboratory initially provided soil analysis, extending into other agricultural areas and eventually into environmental and industrial analysis for a broad range of customers throughout Ireland. Further growth saw the addition of a microbiology laboratory in the early 1990’s.
IAS is committed to providing quality analytical services, focused on customer requirements. The laboratory is approved by the Department of Agriculture to test soils for participants in the Rural Environmental Protection Scheme (REPS) and also partakes in the EPA Inter Calibration program and is listed as an approved laboratory on the EPA website.
Wendy McCall has been appointed laboratory manager and Denise Reilly deputy manager. Ex IAS director Michael Hogan will head up a new business development unit and existing employees of IAS will remain with the company.
IAS will continue to operate under its own name as part of the OCAE group.
Future plans
The acquisition will allow OCAE to expand and improve its range of services. OCAE will now offer a range of services encompassing agricultural advice, environmental compliance, auditing, agri-environmental research and a comprehensive laboratory facility. OCAE will maintain a number of regional offices in Enfield, Carlow and Limerick.
The firm intends to promote its range of tests to farmers. Analytical services will include soil, grass, silage, water, milk and other animal tissue analysis. The focus will be on comprehensive analysis addressing crop and animal nutrient requirements including major nutrients and trace elements. The in house expertise from OCAE will allow expert interpretation of the results and implementation of recommendations.
Soil testing requirements are expected to increase over the coming decade as livestock and tillage farmers move to comply with the Nitrates Directive and the requirement for Soil Organic Matter analyses.
IAS will expand its range of environmental analyses with a particular focus on water.
``This is an exciting development for OCAE, existing and potential clients will now look on the OCAE group as a one stop shop able to provide a full range of services in an integrated and cost competitive package. The acquisition of IAS will position OCAE to attract further clients both at home and abroad.’’ said David O’Connell, managing director of OCAE.
``This development will allow us to provide a more comprehensive service at a competitive price,’’ said Wendy McCall, manager of IAS Laboratories Ltd.
For further information please contact:
Michael Hogan on 059-9721022
Email: info@ocae.ie
Website: www.ocae.ie