UCD School Ag & Food

UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science - First destination of choice for Agriculture and Food Science undergraduate and graduate programmes.

[Niall McGauran @lelyrobotman]

Enjoyed interviewing @PierceKarina at this years @NPAIE . She recently was appointed the new Dean of Agriculture by @ucdagfood and she gave great insight as to how the top Agricultural University in Ireland and one of the best in the world is evolving to prepare the graduates of the future for a career in Agri Tech

[UCD School Ag & Food @ucdagfood]

Lisa Begley studied agricultural science at University College Dublin and continued on to complete a Master's in Agricultural Extension and Innovation.
She works on the family livestock farm in Co. Mayo, in addition to her role as a Project Officer at ACRES West Connacht.

As ACRES Project Officer, Lisa helps to support farmers across the Ox Mountain region by providing guidance on environmental management and sustainable landscape actions to address local environmental challenges.

Lisa says "I would like to see supports for farmers to protect environmental assets on their land to continue in the next CAP. I think there's a positive outlook for the agricultural sector in the future, but income supports such as ACRES need to continue to allow for a sustainable future for the next generation of the agricultural sector."

[UCD College of Health & Agricultural Science @UCD_CHAS]

Meet Dr Martina Wallace, whose research explores the molecular mechanisms underlying metabolic health & disease.
Read her profile to learn more about her research & career journey at UCD
🔗 https://t.co/M5XX0o9BO2
#MetabolicHealth #BiomedicalResearch #Obesity #LiverResearch

[UCD School Ag & Food @ucdagfood]

In the latest @RTEBrainstorm Dr.Simona Grasso asks: Will nitrite-free meat change the Irish breakfast?

🥓There are so many questions around nitrates:
What are they and why are they used?
How are nitrite-free meat products made, and what's the difference compared to the regular versions?

Read this great piece below about the future of nitrates and should we be concerned?

https://t.co/ZUHEQz1Zbt

[UCD School Ag & Food @ucdagfood]

Our final day at Screggan featured two excellent panel discussions: Food, Land and the Future and Learning Outside the Classroom: The Sport, Society and Social Side of UCD.

We signed off on a fun filled, jam packed week and with a heavy heart, have to send Daisy and Barbara back to UCD Vet Med! 🐄 🐑

[UCD School Ag & Food @ucdagfood]

Day 2, Professor Kate Robson Brown, UCD Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Impact joined Dr Nessa Noronha Director of Food for Health Ireland and UCD faculty for "Future of Food: Reinventing the Food System".

The afternoon panels was the weeks flagship panel discussion as we Celebrated FAO International Year of the Woman Farmer with Dr Monica Gorman, Professor Karina Pierce, the first woman to lead the School as Dean of Agriculture, Ursula Kelly of Cormac Tagging, and MSc student and Ambassador Finalist Meabh Byrne 👩‍🌾💚

[UCD School Ag & Food @ucdagfood]

Tuesdays Ploughing! 🚜
Two fantastic panels and delighted to have some wonderful familiar faces drop in to say hello including Niamh Lehehan, CEO of An Rialálaí Agraibhia (Agri-Food Regulator), Maria Walsh MEP and UCD Ag Extension and Innovation graduate and New Zealand Ambassador to Ireland, Angela Hassan-Sharp.

[UCD School Ag & Food @ucdagfood]

The final day of the National Ploughing Championships 2026, we went out with a bang! 🚜
Two more fantastic panel discussions; the first led by Professor Kieran Meade on Food, Land and the Future! how we use our land, what we produce on it, and what the next hundred years of Irish agriculture looks like.

The final panel was chaired by @farmersjournal's Sarah McIntosh on "Learning Outside the Classroom: The Sport, Society and Social Side of UCD."

Across three action-packed days, our stand brought together students, farmers, researchers, industry leaders, alumni and visitors to share ideas, showcase our research and explore the opportunities available through education at UCD.

🎥 Check out the highlights from our final day at Ploughing 2026 and follow our social media channels to see even more great content from the event.

[UCD School Ag & Food @ucdagfood]

Another brilliant day at the @ucdagfood stand at the 2026 National Ploughing Championships @NPAIE!

Two excellent panel discussions — The Future of Food: Reinventing the Food System and Celebrating the International Year of the Woman Farmer — plus plenty of fun, games, engaging conversations and knowledge sharing made for another action-packed day at Screggan.

🎥 Check out our Day 2 Highlights below!

Heading to Ploughing tomorrow? 👋 Find us at the UCD stand, Block 4, Row 10, Stand 185 and come say hello!

https://t.co/DrkslDB7vI via @YouTube

[IFM magazine @FarmersMonthly]

Engaging, interactive and 'fun' initiatives such as this one at the @ucdagfood stand really help to spread the safety message! Here, you can also learn more about the @fbd-sponsored UCD Health and Safety Awards!

[UCD School Ag & Food @ucdagfood]

Day one at the Ploughing 🌾🚜

A brilliant start in Screggan — alumni calling in to say hello, current students on the stand, and plenty of future students asking about our programmes.

Two panels down: Generational Renewal this morning, and Telling Your Story: Belfield and Beyond this afternoon. Add the demos and the conversations in between, and it's been a great first day.
And it means that bit more this year — we're marking 100 years of agricultural education, research and leadership at UCD.

Tomorrow: Future of Food at 11.30, and Celebrating the International Year of the Woman Farmer at 13.30.

Block 4, Row 10, Stand 185. Come down and see us.

#Ploughing26 #NPC2026 #UCDAgFood #100Years #AgScience #IrishFarming #UCDDublin

[UCD School Ag & Food @ucdagfood]

🗣️Let’s talk Generational Renewal…

Another of our key panels this Ploughing is on the hot and incredibly important topic of Generational Renewal.

We are delighted to welcome @MacranaFeirme President Josephine O’Neill, @teagasc Conor Hogan and @HerdPlus Simon Lanigan along side UCD’s Brian Leonard and Karen Keaveney.

[UCD School Ag & Food @ucdagfood]

🚜The National Ploughing Championships is just days away! This year you will find the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science at you will find us at Block 4, Row 10, stand 185 and we are excited to bring to visitors a wonderful experience, even bigger and better this year.

It is a very special year for the School of Agriculture and Food Science as we marked a major milestone in our history celebrating 100 years of agricultural education, research and innovation at the University.

We are also delighted to celebrate our new Head of School and Dean of Agriculture and Food Science, Professor Karina Pierce with this appointment also marking a significant milestone as Professor Pierce becomes the first woman to hold the position in the School's history.

This year is also the United Nations International Year of the Woman Farmer and to celebrate we are delighted to host a wonderful panel hosted by Dr Monica Gorman, Associate Professor in agricultural extension and innovation with Professor Karina Pierce, Ursula Kelly, Chief Executive Officer, Cormac Tagging, and IMAGE PwC Family Businesswoman of the Year 2025; Meabh Byrne, International Year of the Woman Farmer Ambassador Finalist, Agri Guild Communications Prize Winner, and MSc Animal Science Student

A not to be missed talk at 1.30pm on Wednesday 16th.

Keep a look out for updates on all our panels throughout Ploughing.

[UCD School Ag & Food @ucdagfood]

Just dropped! 🎤

📖Our 2026/2027 Undergraduate prospectus. Check it out now for information on all our programmes.

🗣️Hear from students and graduates and get an insight into the wonderful student life, student supports and all that the UCD School of Ag & Food Science has to offer! 🙌

https://t.co/bLLNbmc75x

[UCD School Ag & Food @ucdagfood]

Professor Karina Pierce, Associate Professor Alan Kelly, Associate Professor Zoe McKay, Professor Tommy Boland from the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science and Mick Houlihan from @Bordbia Origin Green talk here as UCD Lyons Farm welcomed Agriculture Ministers from all 27 EU Member States, Commissioner Christophe Hansen and Minister Martin Heydon TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, for a visit showcasing research and innovation addressing the future of European agriculture.

[UCD School Ag & Food @ucdagfood]

In this keynote interview for the @ifac_ireland 2026 Food & Agribusiness Report, Group Head of Growth and Agrifood Consulting, David Leydon sits down with Dean of Agriculture and Head of UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science, Professor Karina Pierce who sets out five priorities for the next five years and explains why industry has become one of the university’s most important teachers.

Read the full report and interview here:

https://t.co/6R82K7Zhv8

[Christophe Hansen @CHansenEU]

The question isn't whether livestock has a future in Europe. It's how we make that future strong, sustainable & viable for farmers 🇪🇺

In Dublin, we focused on innovation, AI & practical solutions➡️all the more urgent after a summer of drought affecting crops, fodder & livestock

[UCD School Ag & Food @ucdagfood]

An exciting start to the week @ucdlyonsfarm as European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food @CHansenEU, EU Agriculture Ministers, representatives of the @Europarl_EN and farming organisations visited the farm to see first-hand how research and innovation @ucddublin is helping shape the future of sustainable agriculture.

The delegation, which included Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine @martinheydonfg received a warm welcome from UCD President @OrlaFeely

Across a series of research stations, the delegation heard about the breadth of research being conducted @ucdagfood including:

🌱 Grass-based livestock

🐄 Sustainable dairy production

🌍 Sustainable food production

🐮 Animal health and welfare

The visit forms part of @ucddublin programme of engagement during Ireland’s Presidency of the @EUCouncil of the @EU_Commission providing an opportunity to showcase the contribution of Irish agricultural research and the role of @ucdagfood in generating the knowledge and innovation needed to support a competitive, resilient and sustainable agri-food sector.

#AGRIFISH

[UCD School Ag & Food @ucdagfood]

Many congratulations to Dr. Cian Minogue and Dr. Niamh Dunphy who were awarded their PhD’s this week in O’Reilly Hall. Cian celebrates here with his supervisor Zoe McKay and Niamh with supervisor Sinead Flannery.

A very special day as they are awarded and recognised for their incredible work and achievements.

Many congratulations to all our newest alumni. 🎓

[David MacHugh @david_machugh]

Fantastic new @ucddublin #palaeoviromics and #HistoricalGenomics study published in @ScienceAdvances and led by #KevinDaly and @louis_l_hote.

@ucdagfood, @UCD_Conway, @UCD_Research, @UCD_CHAS, @OneHealthUCD

#paleogenomics #OneHealth