Irish Seed Savers are thrilled to wish Kiera Kelly and Emily Cronin, students from St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Tulla, the very best of luck at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition taking place at the RDS Dublin from January 9th to 16th.
The journey began in early September when Science Teacher Mairead O’Brien reached out to Irish Seed Savers to explore a potential collaboration on a research project. We proposed an exciting study focusing on protein levels in a selection of our pea collection. Eight pea varieties, including both Irish heritage and European types, were provided for analysis.
Kiera and Emily’s project, “Pea Power: A Sustainable Protein Crop – An Investigation into the Protein Content in Organically Grown Irish and International Pea Varieties from Irish Seed Savers”, explores the potential of peas as a sustainable alternative protein source. The students carried out a comparative analysis of nitrogen levels in various pea seed varieties, aiming to identify those with the highest protein concentration while examining their adaptability to Ireland’s maritime climate and the interplay of environmental and genetic factors.
The project highlights the importance of sustainable protein crops in addressing global food challenges, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting environmentally friendly agricultural practices.
Key Findings
Under the guidance of Miryam Amigo Benavent, a lecturer in the Food Science Department at the University of Limerick, Kiera and Emily conducted protein extraction analysis in October at UL’s Department of Biological Sciences. Using the Biuret test and Kjeldahl method, they revealed significant variation in protein levels among the eight varieties.
- The Daniel O’Rourke pea, an Irish heritage variety, stood out with the highest protein levels, even after refrigeration and cooking, indicating strong resilience to temperature stress.
- In contrast, the Pilot variety displayed the lowest protein concentration.
These findings emphasize the potential of certain pea varieties as high-protein, sustainable alternatives to animal-based protein sources. The research underscores the nutritional benefits of peas, which are rich in protein, fibre, vitamins, and minerals, while also enhancing soil health and reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers. The key findings are summarized in the Pea Project Poster here.
Looking to the Future
Kiera and Emily’s project exemplifies how science and agriculture can work hand-in-hand to develop sustainable solutions for global food security. Their hard work and dedication are a testament to the importance of youth-led innovation in creating a greener future.
We at Irish Seed Savers are incredibly proud to have supported this project and extend our heartfelt congratulations to Kiera, Emily, and their teacher, Mairead O’Brien, for their outstanding scientific research and reporting.
Best of luck at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition—we can’t wait to see the impact of your work! Read the full report in the Pea Power Project Booklet here.
