The UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science received a major award recognising outstanding leadership in agricultural education and training at the Agribusiness Awards.

The awards ceremony, which took place on November 17 at the Ballsbridge Hotel, Co. Dublin, provides an opportunity to celebrate the many achievements in the agriculture and food sectors.

Attended by more than 200 people, guests included distinguished figures from across the industry.

The UCD Dean of Agriculture, Professor Alexander Evans, was delighted to collect the award on behalf of his colleagues at the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science.

“It is particularly gratifying to receive this award, from the agribusiness community, given that our programmes are designed to equip future leaders of this sector with the necessary scientific, technical and business skills required to grow Ireland’s global agri-food industry.”

There are more than 1,800 students registered to programmes offered by the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science including twelve undergraduate programmes.

In 2016, the School of Agriculture and Food Science is celebrating 178 years of agricultural education and research.

Recent successful initiatives where the school have had an involvement include the official opening of the €2.3m UCD Lyons Dairy Research and Education Facility at UCD Lyons Farm.

As well as the UCD Evolution of Land Plants Garden receiving a gold medal for Best Concept Garden at Bloom 2016.

The University is ranked within the top 1% of higher education institutions world-wide, with in excess of 33,000 students, including 7,038 international students from 131 countries.

Other Winners at the Agribusiness Awards

Major Equipment, a manufacturer specialising in grass and slurry equipment, was awarded the overall ‘Agribusiness of the Year Award’ as well as the ‘Agribusiness of the Year – Equipment and Machinery’.

Former Bord Bia Chief Executive Aidan Cotter was crowned ‘Agribusiness Leader 2016’ at the award ceremony.

Meanwhile, Moocall, a calving sensor company, took home two awards for ‘Innovation in Agribusiness’ and ‘Agribusiness of the Year – Emerging’.