The new €4.5 million Paddy O’Keeffe Innovation Centre, named in honour of the Fermoy native, who was seen as an icon in Irish agriculture, was officially opened at the Teagasc campus in Moorepark last Friday.

The Paddy O’Keeffe Innovation Centre will be used by the researchers, specialists and advisers involved in the delivery of the Teagasc Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Programme, and in the delivery of part of Teagasc Education programme.

Specifically the centre will be used to support the research programme on grassland, animal breeding and health, and farming systems.

In a career that spanned seven decades, Paddy O’Keeffe was a driving force behind the creation of FBD some 40 years ago, and acted as its chairperson for 20 years. He also served as editor of the Irish Farmers’ Journal for 37 years. A native of Duntaheen, he died at the age of 89 in 2013.

Among those present at the opening for the opening were EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan, EU Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation Carlos Moedas and Minister for Agriculture, Food, the Marine & Defence, Simon Coveney TD.

Speaking at the opening of the centre last Friday, EU Commissioner Phil Hogan described Paddy O’Keeffe as 'one of the legends of Irish agriculture’.

“His passion for innovation, for change, for development, for productivity and ultimately for the sustainability of Irish agriculture and the rural way of life, are values more important today than ever before, as we enter a new era of Irish, and indeed European, agriculture.”

His words were echoed by Minister Simon Coveney, describing the Fermoy native as a ‘much admired figure’ who spent his life seeking our new knowledge that would help improve the agri-food sector in Ireland.

“His commitment to education, research and the dissemination of information to the farming community remained constant over the decades and this Innovation Centre is a truly fitting tribute to his legacy,” he said.

Teagasc chairman, Dr Noel Cawley thanked FBD Trust for their generous financial support which facilitated the establishment of the Paddy O’Keeffe Innovation Centre. He also acknowledged the funding contribution from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine towards the centre.

“Paddy was a passionate advocate of new knowledge and recognised the need for continuous improvement within the industry and the need to develop Ireland’s competitive advantage as grass based milk producers.

“As we enter this new post quota era in milk production, and as we strive to increase our utilisation of grass in beef and sheep systems, this new Innovation Centre, the researchers working here and the young people educated here, will play an increasingly important role in developing Irish agriculture in the future.”

Michael Berkery, chairperson of FBD, said that the company's substantial financial investment in the centre is a strong statement of their commitment to Irish farmers and the wider agricultural industry.

He added: “This is a unique financial investment by a private company to public research. The new facilities were a fitting tribute to the late Paddy O’Keeffe’s fearless leadership and lifelong contribution to transforming Irish agriculture.”

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