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Dr. Dayle Johnston, Teagasc: with a PhD in Animal Science and a Professional Diploma in Education. Dayle works as a postdoctoral researcher in Teagasc Grange in Dunsany Co. Meath. Her research focuses on the genetic response of calves to infection with viruses which cause pneumonia and to identify DNA-based biomarkers associated with resistance to pneumonia.
She is originally from a suckler and sheep farm near Kinnitty in Co. Offaly. She enjoys helping out on the family farm and bringing her dog for walks around the Slieve Bloom mountains. She is also a member of Trim Athletic club and regularly competes in races and duathalons! |
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Dayle explains: “CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) supports farming and farming creates downstream jobs such as science and technology. Science and technology are very important in the agri food sector as it allows for research into sustainable farming practices and ensure a greener environment for future generations.”
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Chef Edward Hayden: Celebrity Chef Edward Hayden will be a familiar face to many as a regular contributor to Ireland AM as a TV chef, he is also an author, broadcaster on KCLR FM and a culinary lecturer in Waterford IT. A native of Graiguenamanagh, County Kilkenny, Edward for the past several years has ran his own very successful cookery school set in the heart of the village. No stranger to the stage Edward is also heavily involved in amateur drama and musical theatre groups in the South East.
Edward explains how the “CAP produces the 4 prerequisites any chef should and would be looking for; quality traceable affordable sustainable and can sustain environment in the local economy. Good quality raw products enable us to serve the best quality dish and add our bit of magic to it”. |
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Farmer Kevin Moran: The youngest of 11 children, Moran grew up on a 40-cow dairy farm in Claremorris, Co. Mayo. Kevin who is a former Nuffield Scholar and a previous winner of the FBD Young Farmer of the Year currently farms 360 acres and is milking 320 cows.
Kevin’s story is an inspiring one with it taking him only five years to grow his business to this scale! This young farmer didn’t own a single acre starting off. It wasn’t until his uncle Joe agreed to lease him a 36 hectare block – on a 10-year lease – that the idea of one day running his own dairy business began to turn into a reality. |
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Kevin describes how being a Dairy farmer in Galway not only affects him, but the rural economy around him; “60% of my annual income turnover goes into running this farm most is circulated locally in the rural economy. I work alongside the CAP to produce food in a manner that will allow my children and grandchildren to produce the same way in years to come”.
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Vet and professor, Marijke Beltman -
With a degree in Veterinary Medicine from Utrecht, after graduating Marijke joined the UCD as an intern in Large Animal Medicine. After her internship she spent a year in predominantly large animal practice in Co. Mayo before returning to UCD to undertake a combined residency and PhD programme. Her PhD research focused on early embryo development in cattle. Marijke was appointed as a Lecturer in Clinical Reproduction in UCD in August of the same year. Her main research interests include factors affecting early embryonic development in cattle and understanding the drivers of reduced reproductive performance in cattle with a focus on uterine disease. Marijke combines teaching reproduction of all species to undergraduate veterinary students as well as nurses with her clinical duties in both the UCD Veterinary Hospital and out on farms. Outside work she spends her time competing in various adventure races, triathlons and running competitions. |
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Marijke explains how “the whole vet profession is there to promote the welfare of animals, especially in a country like Ireland where agriculture is such an important product. The CAP has given the sector as whole a huge opportunity to deliver that high-end product for the consumer”.
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