University College Dublin and the University of California, Davis have signed an agreement of cooperation to further develop education, research, innovation and cultural links between the two institutions. The signing took place at an event Sept. 24 at the Irish Embassy in Washington, D.C.

“Researchers and academics at our institutions have been sharing ideas and working together for some time, but this agreement shows a real commitment on both sides to collaborate even further towards common goals. It heralds a new stage of cooperation between our two universities; a stage which promises to be exciting and exhilarating for all,” said Professor Andrew J. Deeks, President of University College Dublin.

UC Davis Chancellor Linda P. B. Katehi said, “This new agreement stands as a truly significant development, not just for our two institutions but also for education and research in food and health worldwide. By creating a more formal collaborative relationship, we are building on current collaborations and leveraging the expertise and effort of two of the finest universities in the world.”

The agreement builds on established links between both institutions, particularly in the areas of agriculture, food and health, and veterinary medicine, in which both lead internationally.

UC Davis is ranked number one in the world in agriculture and forestry in the QS World University Rankings (2014). University College Dublin is the number one university globally on citations per paper in the areas of agricultural science and food science and technology, based on Thomas Reuters InCites, 2009-2013 data among institutions publishing at scale.

“Today’s agreement builds on strong collaborations between University College Dublin and UC Davis in areas including agriculture and food and health which are important to our economies and societies," said Orla Feely, professor and vice president for research, innovation and impact, University College Dublin. "This agreement will see the exchange of staff, students, ideas and knowledge that will have impact on the Irish, US and indeed the global economy and society.”

Paul Dodd, associate vice chancellor for interdisciplinary research at UC Davis, said that some of the world’s most challenging scientific problems can only be addressed by taking an interdisciplinary and often a multi-institutional approach.

"Bringing together the brightest minds from the two universities will enable the discovery of new insights, exemplified by today’s launch seminar linking experts in agriculture, food, nutrition and health studies together," Dodd said. "Through partnership we can accelerate each institutions research mission and serve as a shining example of international scientific collaboration.”

Joint inaugural symposium on food and health

Prior to the signing of the agreement the University College Dublin Institute of Food and Health and the UC Davis Foods for Health Institute held the inaugural John E. Kinsella Memorial Symposium at the Embassy, including the first John E. Kinsella Memorial Lecture, given by Catherine Woteki, chief scientific adviser to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

A graduate of University College Dublin, Kinsella served as dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at UC Davis from 1990 until his death in 1993. The John E. Kinsella Memorial Lecture marks the outstanding contribution he made to food and health research during his career.

This symposium, which in future will be held in either Dublin or California, has been established by the University College Dublin and UC Davis to strengthen and broaden the already well-established strategic links between both institutions in the areas of food, health and veterinary medicine. The theme of the inaugural symposium was dairy research.

Professor Bruce German, director of the UC Davis Foods for Health Institute said, “The challenges facing agriculture, food and health are substantial and will require that the world's great institutions step forward and address them together, as bold, innovative collaborations. UC Davis and UCD are stepping forward and we are very excited by the possibilities that such an inspiring relationship will bring to this challenge.”

About University College Dublin

As Ireland’s largest university, University College Dublin plays a leading role in research, which underpins this sector and has aligned its research strengths to national needs. Its recognition of the importance of the agriculture and food sector to Ireland is reflected by the designation of agri-food as one of the University’s key strategic research priority areas.

University College Dublin’s agriculture and food research organization is unique in Ireland, in that it includes a dedicated School of Agriculture and Food Science, an Institute of Food and Health, and also a School of Veterinary Medicine, a veterinary hospital and a fully functional 580-acre University College Dublin Lyons Research Farm.

UC's Global Food Initiative

UC Davis is participating in UC’s Global Food Initiative launched by UC President Janet Napolitano, harnessing the collective power of UC to help feed the world and steer it on the path to sustainability.