UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN
HONORARY CONFERRING
Monday, 29 August 2011 at 4.30 p.m.
TEXT OF THE INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS DELIVERED BY PROFESSOR MAURICE BOLAND, Principal, UCD College of Life Sciences, University College Dublin on 29 August 2011, on the occasion of the conferring of the Degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa on DANIEL BROWNE
President, Distinguished Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen
From a farming background in Douglas, Co Cork, Dan Browne started his career as a research scientist. After graduating from UCD in 1959 with a BAgrSc Honours degree, he joined the newly established Agricultural Research Institute, An Foras Talúntais or AFT, and now known as Teagasc. He was appointed to the Animal Production unit at Grange but instead his first posting was at the grassland research centre at Johnstown Castle in Wexford to develop his skills in soil science and grassland management. In late 1959, he moved back to his native Cork and was tasked with developing a national dairy research centre on a then derelict farm at Moorepark, near Fermoy. He was the third scientist recruited to Moorepark and was central in building a world-class dairy centre there over the following 15 years. He developed a major dairy research programme using a systems approach taking advantage of having two external farms at Kilmeadon and Mullinahone where he examined the beneficial effects of N fertilizer on grassland production, milk yield and farm profitability. Cows produced about 2000 litres and were stocked at a cow/ha – quite different to now. Conducting the research programme on these farms ensured that his systems approach, management skills and techniques were honed to ensure a viable dairy industry in Ireland.
Being one of the first scientists employed by AFT contributed significantly to a productive team environment, and Dan was involved in many experiments including beef cattle trials – a task that would serve him well in later life in the meat industry; he broke down many a carcass while involved in collaborative research in AFT. He was truly visionary and quickly established links with scientists in New Zealand – a trend that still continues with many staff from Teagasc and UCD currently having strong links with NZ and I am informed that a number of you graduating today also set down possible future ties in NZ as part of your professional work experience. He spent time at Palmerston North and brought back with him the skills and expertise to conduct animal and grassland experiments in such a way as to achieve the optimum return on investment.
The pioneering work of Dan Browne and his colleagues at Moorepark was vital in transforming dairy farming of the sixties into the competitive and sophisticated business it is today, which is forecast to expand by 50% by 2020. He not only developed the new science and technology, he also communicated it with enthusiasm and conviction to dairy farmers throughout Ireland. His communications skills received national recognition and in the early1970s he presented a series of very successful television programmes on dairying on RTE. Dan is a long-serving member of the Agricultural Trust, publisher of the Irish Farmers Journal, an achievement which further emphasises his interest in effective communication.
He left the world of research and AFT in 1974, and joined the meat industry, becoming manager of the Cork Marts - IMP plant at Middleton. In 1980, he set up Dawn Meats, a food processing company, with the Queally family in Waterford. He was managing director of the company, until 2007 and ended up taking ownership of his former employer, Cork Marts at Middleton. Dawn also acquired Highland Meats, Scotland, Meadow Meats, Ballyhaunis, Ballaghaderreen and Charlieville meats. Slaughtering capacity in the UK was developed by purchase of slaughtering, boning and retail packing operations in Yorkshire, Cardington and Milton Keynes. Dawn commenced retail packing with a new facility in Dawn Pac in Wales. All retail packing was relocated to Dawn Pac in 2005. Dan was one of the main shareholders in Dawn Meats, which has an estimated turnover of €900m for 2011 and employs 2700 staff. Dawn operates a graduate training programme with an average intake of 15 over the last 3 years. In 2011, 11 offers were made to UCD graduates, 8 of whom have already commenced work.
In tandem with his busy life as a leading meat industry executive, he also played an important part in developing the farming and food industries. He was Chairman of the Board at Teagasc from 1993 to 1998. He was also Chairman of the board of An Bord Bia and retired as Chair in April 2011. Bord Bia is the state agency with responsibility to drive the success of a world class Irish Food, Drink and Horticulture industry through strategic market development, promotion and information services.
Some of the highlights of his term as Chair include the launch of the Bord Bia Marketing Fellowship in association with the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, which is now in its third cycle offering 25 of Ireland’s sharpest minds an exciting opportunity on the Bord Bia Marketing Fellowship.
This intensive 12-month action learning programme gives successful candidates the combined opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with some of Ireland’s most respected food companies and also gain a postgraduate qualification. Participants’ time will be split between working in foreign locations, (New York, London, Shanghai, Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid, Milan, Moscow and Düsseldorf) supported by Bord Bia, and studying for an MSc in Marketing Practice at UCD Smurfit School.
Dan’s experience in both the public and private sectors means that his advice and strategic thinking are sought after at the highest levels. For example, he chairs the industry-led group which is developing a Strategic Research Agenda for the Food Sector. This important group is part of the Government’s implementation of the national Food Harvest 2020 Strategy, and parallels the Agri-Research Expert Advisory Group, which will develop a strategic agenda for agricultural good research.
Dan is married to Kaye and they have 3 sons and 1 daughter and 10 grandchildren.
He has many sporting interests and his horse “JohnCol” won the Hennessey Gold Cup in 2010. He has a very strong interest in Gaelic games which is not surprising for a Cork man.
Today we honour Dan Browne for his vision, leadership, innovation and outstanding contribution to agricultural developments, particularly in relation to the meat industry and development of employment opportunities for graduates and others; for his leadership as Chairman of several influential committees including the Board of Teagasc and an Bord Bia and for his wise counsel in the ongoing development and implementation of national strategy for the key indigenous agri-food sector.
Praehonorabilis Praeses, totaque Universitas,
Praesento vobis hunc meum filium, quem scio tam moribus quam doctrina habilem et idoneum esse qui admittatur, honoris causa, ad gradum Doctoratus Scientiae; idque tibi fide mea testor ac spondeo, totique Academiae.