Former director of Teagasc, the agriculture and food development authority, Dr Liam Downey, yesterday claimed that environmental research here was "fragmented and lacked the critical scientific mass".
Dr Downey said this was reflected in the current claim and counterclaim around the controversial EU nitrates directive.
He was speaking after a subcommittee of Teagasc spent the day examining the new scientific data which will be submitted to the Government on the nitrates directive.
Calling for the establishment of an integrated rural environment research centre, Dr Downey, currently an honorary professor in UCD and NUI Maynooth, said such a centre was essential to ensure the economic and environmental sustainability of rural economies.
"Such a centre is a prerequisite to having the necessary knowledge base to achieve the optimum balance between economic development and protection of Ireland's rich natural and cultural heritage."
He said new scientific and business thinking was required to develop profitable systems of livestock and crop production.
A further requirement of animal and crop production models in the future would be their ability to cope with emerging climate changes.