Scoil an Talmhaíochta,

Eolaíocht an Chothaithe agus

an Leighis Tréidliachta UCD

UCD School of Agriculture,

Food Science and Veterinary

Medicine

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Agriculture A major driver of economic recovery

Presentation to Mr Brendan Smith, TD

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Food

3rd March 2008

UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science & Veterinary Medicine (SAFSVM)

• Largest School in UCD – Providing education and research on the agri-food

continuum– ca. 100 academic staff, 90 post docs, > 1000

undergraduates, 80 Masters & 160 PhD students– €16.5M Research income 2007/08

• 4 Major Disciplines– Agriculture– Veterinary Medicine– Food Science– Biosystems Engineering

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• Education– Only Veterinary Education programme in Ireland

• All island focus– Only veterinary referral hospital– Resident Clinical Training

• European Specialist Diploma

• Research (and protection of the national food industry)– Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology & Risk Analysis– TB Diagnostic & Immunology Research– Badger Vaccine Project– UCD Herd Health initiative

Strategic Role of Veterinary Medicine

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• Education– Only programme covering complete food chain in

Ireland• Supported by multi-disciplinary teaching and

research

• Research– Institute of Food & Health– UCD Centre for Food Safety– Food for Health Ireland– Bioresources Research Centre (bio-energy &

environmental impact of agri-food industry)

Strategic Role of Agri-Food Programme

Agriculture is important again• Indigenous industry, high value added and not

geographically transient

• Economic crisis forcing re-evaluation of priorities

• More efficient and environmentally sustainable production systems

• Need a “smarter” knowledge-based agri-food industry capable of competing internationally

• Enhanced downstream innovation

• Education and research are fundamental prerequisites 5

Need to reposition agriculture centre-stage

• Past decade saw decreased emphasis on production agriculture

• Academic appointments & resources followed research opportunities e.g. move to bio- and IT programmes

• Key areas requiring consolidation:– production agriculture– green energy (biomass-to-energy)– environmental impacts

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Key Strategic Objectives• Reposition agri-food sector centre-stage• Emphasis on:

– efficient and environmentally sustainable production systems

– value added through downstream processing– effective translation of knowledge into practice

• Deliver:– farm-to-fork; – farm-to-bio-products– farm-to-energy (Ireland, the Green Island)

• UCD key national role in delivering this7

Requirements to achieve these objectives

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1. Develop strategic alliance with DAFF (strategic planning)

2. Strengthen the role of UCD in developing and protecting the national agri-food & bio-resource industries (e.g. VPH, agri-business, bio-energy, bio-products)

3. Maximise the use of available resources, e.g.• Develop Lyons-Backweston Research & Innovation Campus• Enhance collaboration with Teagasc & industry

4. Make key joint appointments (leadership roles):• Professorship of Veterinary Public Health (VPH)• Professorship of Agriculture

5. Adjunct Appointments (Professorships)

Infrastructure & Opportunities for Collaboration• Lyons – Backweston Innovation Campus

– Veterinary Public health– Green Energy – Environmental Solutions– Bio-Sciences– Special tax status

• World Class facilities– Attract scientists– Industry– Strong University Linkages

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Strategic Planning

• Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food involved in planning process– Ensure that UCD teaching and research meets

the needs of industry and national recovery priorities

– Supporting collaborative efforts • Teagasc• Universities

– Undertake an annual review of performance against plans

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