Prof Jimmy Burke appointed to new Masstock Chair in Crop Science

RENOWNED crop scientist and academic Professor Jimmy Burke has been named as the first ever holder of the new Masstock Chair in Crop Science at University College Dublin (UCD).

Having worked in universities in both Ireland and the US, the leading Teagasc expert has developed strong links with industry in addition to having a close working relationship with national and international research centres and universities.

A strategic thinker, Prof Burke is well known for his ability to generate innovative and novel solutions for the advancement of crop science. He has vast experience in research, research interpretation and information dissemination throughout his career and has led a very successful crop science, plant breeding and plant biotechnology research programme at the Irish National Crop Science Research Centre.

Prof Burke has served on boards and advisory committees relating to agriculture, biotechnology and bioenergy His major interests cover present and future aspects of crop science, including crop physiology and agronomy, bioenergy, climate change impacts on crop production, plant response to environmental stress as well as the development of new biotechnological approaches for plant improvement.

The new Masstock chair was established by UCD’s School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, and endowed by Origin Enterprises, whose subsidiary Masstock is focused on the development of sustainable and profitable systems of primary food production through an integrated approach connecting innovative research with a cutting edge technology portfolio and strategic on-farm advice.