The Agricultural Institute (An Foras Taluantais) was the powerhouse of agricultural innovation in Ireland at a time when it was desperately needed.

Founded in the mid-1950s with the aid of the post-war US Marshall aid money, Irish agriculture had been dismissed by an international consultant as producing as little as was possible under an Irish sky.

As well as agriculture producing way under its potential, the country was rapidly losing population as economic progress failed to lift living standards and provide employment for its citizens.

It says something for the importance of agriculture that the new institute had its headquarters at 33 Merrion Road, Ballsbridge, now the site of the British Embassy

The institute’s first director was Tom Walsh, its second was Pierce Ryan who died just last week. Both were Wexford men and both were soil scientists by training though they had very different personalities. It says something for the importance of agriculture that the new institute had its headquarters at 33 Merrion Road, Ballsbridge, now the site of the British Embassy. The UK government bought it after the burning of its Merrion Square premises in 1972. The institute then moved across the road to its campus in Sandymount Avenue where its rural economy division had its headquarters.

Pierce used to regale us with stories how, as a student, he used go to the Áras for a good meal as well as seeing his aunt

Pierce Ryan had his office and headquarter staff there. He was of a prominent Fianna Fáil family. His uncle Jim Ryan had been minister for finance and his aunt was married to President Sean T Ó Ceallaigh. Pierce used to regale us with stories how, as a student, he used go to the Áras for a good meal as well as seeing his aunt.

He was a highly competent scientist and a brilliant lecturer

In his earlier days, he had served in the Rome-headquartered FAO – the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations which, in those pre-EU days, was one of the few international outlets for Irish foreign involvement.

He was a highly competent scientist and a brilliant lecturer. Both he and his predecessor Tom Walsh were convinced that the primary source of increasing agricultural productivity was based on a knowledge of the soil resources on which increased agricultural and, at that time, national output depended.

The institute operated the main soil analysis laboratory in Ireland and set up specialist research centres for all the main enterprises

Detailed soil surveys were completed on a county-by-county basis and the damage done by excess acidity and aphosphorosis causing lack of thrive in cattle was identified with other mineral and trace element needs.

The institute operated the main soil analysis laboratory in Ireland and set up specialist research centres for all the main enterprises. These made a huge contribution to increasing Irish agricultural productivity.

Pierce Ryan saw it as his duty to encourage each of the 1,000+ staff in the institute to keep personally abreast of the progress being made in the various areas and to represent his institute at national and international level.

It is fair to say that relations between him and his chair at the time, Joe Rea, were never close

During his tenure, he saw the dispersed agricultural advisory and educational services join with the Agricultural Institute to form the united food and agricultural authority – Teagasc. He became the first director of the new body.

It is fair to say that relations between him and his chair at the time, Joe Rea, were never close. He retired in 1993 and since then lived quietly in Dublin, surrounded by his wife, Kate, his daughters Christina and Suzy and grandchildren, to whom we offer our deepest sympathy.