In Ireland, QU Dongyu strengthens FAO’s collaboration with research institutions and observes sustainable farming

Ireland – During his trip to Ireland FAO Director-General QU Dongyu visited the University College Dublin (UCD), one of Europe's leading research-intensive universities.

Founded in 1908, UCD is a community of leading academics working in research with real and far-reaching impact for people and the planet. Welcomed by Orla Feely, UCD president, Qu had a tour of the Rosemount horticultural research station, a pioneering environmental and plant research facility.

After the tour, the FAO Director-General took part in an interactive panel discussion with leading professors from the College in which some students also participated.

In Ireland Qu also visited the University of Galway (UoG), one of the country’s top-rated universities for education and commitment to sustainable development.

Founded in 1845, the University, then one of three Queen's Colleges, the others being located in Cork and Belfast, today holds growing international prestige for the quality of its teaching and the global impact of its research, especially on issues of sustainability.

The tour began with a welcome from UoG Deputy President and Registrar Professor Peter McHugh , a meeting with leading professors and continued with a discussion  with postgraduate students of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Bioeconomy of the Ryan Institute Research Centre.

The Ryan Institute is the multidisciplinary research institute at the University of Galway working on the impact of sustainability and innovation in four thematic research areas: marine and coastal, energy and climate change, agriculture and bioeconomy, and environment and health. The institute consists of 12 Research Centers spanning these four thematic areas of research and responsible for more than 350 research projects, with more than 500 full-time researchers.

The FAO Director-General signed a Letter of Intent with the UoG to support research collaboration and strengthen cooperation on common goals between FAO and the University.

He also urged the UoG academics and students to participate in the Science and Innovation Forum of the World Food Forum to be held in October 2024.

Also as part of his visit to Ireland, Qu visited Kelly Oyster Farm, where, on his arrival, he was greeted by owner Diarmuid Kelly. Located in a small inlet on Galway Bay in Kilcolgan, the Kelly oyster farm produces up to one million oysters a year, all hand-picked, packed in traditional seaweed baskets, and shipped to customers both local, European, and as far away as Canada, Singapore, and Dubai.

During the visit, Qu, accompanied also by Rick Officer, CEO of the Marine Institute of Ireland had the chance to find out interesting things about premium oysters that are raised in a natural inlet of Galway Bay.

Qu next took a tour of the Cliffs of Moher. Bridging the striking Burren landscape on one side and the wild Atlantic Ocean on the other, the cliffs, formed over 320 million years ago, are today part of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark and home to specially protected wildlife. Here, Director-General was guided by Dr Brendan Dunford, renowned expert and Anne Kinsella, senior research officer at Teagasc, the Irish government agency that supports research, training, and advice in the agribusiness sector, on the unique flora  and sustainable farming in the region. Along the way there were opportunities to sample the local produce of the land and the sea.

The FAO Director-General in his remarks recommended that a proposal be submitted to have the Burren habitat be designated as a Globally Important Agricultural Systems site.

Qu then finally visited the Irish National Stud and Gardens, in the County of Kildare, home to some of the most magnificent horses and also took a tour of the Japanese Gardens, where he was received by Martin Heydon, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine of Ireland.