There are few people who combine the qualities of an international scientist and the commercial acumen of an outstanding businessman with the commitment to public service as Dan Browne who died on Tuesday afternoon.

He lived a full life with his wife of 60 years Kay and their four children Aoidin, Paddy, Niall and Colm.

Born into a well known Cork farming family, Dan Browne did Agricultural Science in University College Dublin and was the third staff member to be taken on by the just-established Agricultural Research Institute – An Foras Talúntais – now the research arm of Teagasc.

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After a brief assignment in Johnstown Castle in 1959, he joined Michael Walsh in Moorepark, which had been acquired with the aim of becoming the national dairy centre.

At that time, average cow yield was about 2,000 litres, at a stocking rate of one cow per hectare.

The work carried out on fertiliser, rotational grazing, yield and profitability laid the foundations for the emergence of a world class, competitive Irish dairy industry.

But already his capacity for leadership combined with technical and scientific capacity was noticed, and he was offered the general managership of the new Cork Marts IMP beef processing plant at Midleton.

A few years later, he formed Dawn Meats, together with the remarkable Queally family.

Dawn Meats has developed over the intervening years into one of the major meat processors in Europe, with a broad span of international customers including a deep relationship with McDonald’s, as well owning several plants in Britain.

Other appointments

Dan gave selflessly of his time and ability in his State appointments and served as chair of Teagasc from 1993 to 1998 and chair of Bord Bia until 2011, as well as chair of Waterford Airport.

He was uniquely generous in his sharing of knowledge.

In one particular case, where a postgraduate study was being carried out on the Irish meat market, he introduced the participants to important customers in France and Russia.

He participated fully as a director of the Irish Farmers Journal/The Agricultural Trust for over 20 years.

His contribution to the success of the Irish Farmers Journal was enormous and with Paddy O’Keeffe as editor/chief executive, the emphasis was on the development of the Irish agricultural sector in the pursuit of farmer and national wellbeing.

He has left an indelible mark. To his wife Kay and children, we offer our deepest sympathy. May he rest in peace.