Professor Gerry Boyle, who has led Teagasc since October of 2007 will retire as director this September, the Teagasc Authority has announced. His initial seven-year contract was extended on two occasions.

For the last five years, Boyle has served as an ex officio member of the Climate Change Advisory Council.

Chair of the Teagasc Authority Liam Herlihy confirmed that the process to appoint a new director will be initiated shortly.

Organisation progress

During Boyle’s term at the helm, Teagasc has experienced many profound changes from the moratorium on recruitment and wage cuts in the wake of the 2009 recession to the current pandemic.

Teagasc has developed a dynamic approach to its education programme through its Education Vision strategy.

It also launched Teagasc ConnectEd, a programme that delivers education and training initiatives to a wide range of rural professionals. More recently Teagasc has committed to introducing the first CPD programme that’s specifically directed at farmers.

It has forged effective joint initiatives with Ireland’s leading dairy and meat companies, most notably through the BETTER Beef Programme, the BETTER Sheep Programme and the innovative Grass10 Programme.

On the international front, Teagasc has established a reputation for working at the cutting edge in terms of research and advisory activity.

In Ireland, Teagasc has led on the analysis of the impact of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and in responding through pointing the scientific way forward in relation to the sustainability agenda, especially on climate change.