UCD begins 10th year without agricultural economics professor

IRELAND’S only provider of a degree in agricultural science has just begun its 10th academic year without a professor in agricultural economics.

ICMSA general secretary Ciaran Dolan said it is deeply regrettable that UCD has yet to find a replacement for Prof Seamus Sheehy, who retired as professor of agricultural economics in 2002.

In a letter to UCD president Hugh Brady, Mr Dolan wrote: “We must now express our concern at the capacity of UCD to provide the critical analysis necessary for [the Government’s Food Harvest 2020 ambitions], and the university’s ability to effectively inform public policy discussion on key policy developments for the agri-food sector. We very much regret that we are not alone in expressing such concerns.