Dr Tracey O’Connor

Dr. Tracey O’Connor is a post-doctoral researcher in the Circular Bioeconomy Research Group at Shannon ABC, Munster Technological University. Tracey is working on the Horizon 2020 COOPID project, supporting knowledge exchange about bioeconomy development and innovation among European primary producers.

Tracey has previously worked on other CircBio projects, including the “Surplus Food Redistribution from the Horticulture Sector” and “Efficient Food” projects, both of which examined the issue of food waste in primary production and potential solutions, and the “Socio-Economic Study of Seaweed Harvesting” project which examined pathways for sustainable development of seaweed industry in Ireland.

Her primary expertise is in sustainable food production, with a focus on practices, livelihoods, environments, and governance associated with farming and fishing. Tracey received her PhD in Rural Development from the School of Agriculture and Food Science at University College Dublin (UCD), which was completed as part of a Walsh Fellowship in collaboration with the Teagasc Rural Economy and Development Programme, funded by Teagasc and the Health and Safety Authority of Ireland.

Tracey also holds an MSc. in Environmental Sciences, specialising in Environmental Policy, from Wageningen University, and a BAgrSc. (Hons) degree in Agri-Environmental Science from UCD.