Fermanagh and Omagh accountant, Seamus McCaffrey has completed his term as Chairman of AgriSearch, the farmer-funded research and innovation body and has been succeeded by Professor Gerry Boyle at the recent annual meeting.

Professor Boyle was formerly Director of Teagasc, leading the organisation from 2007 – 2021, during which time he received many personal accolades, most notably, the bestowal of the Academic Palm by the French government in 2017, and the conferring of an Honorary Degree in Science by University College Cork in 2019.

In 2018 he was elected President of Euragri, the EU network for public agri-food research and innovation organisations, and from 2017-2022 he has served as an ex-officio member of the Climate Change Advisory Council.

Norman McMordie and Ian McCluggage have been appointed as joint Vice Chairmen of AgriSearch, Norman from a Co Down beef farm, home to the renowned Solpoll herd of pedigree Herefords and Ian McCluggage, from a Co Antrim dairy farm, who was Head of Branch for Knowledge & Technology Transfer Operational Policy at CAFRE and previously served as Head of Dairy Advisory for many years.

At the AGM, Crosby Cleland, a sheep farmer was appointed to the Board.

At the AGM the appointments of Sam Chesney and Alan McCay were confirmed, having both been co-opted onto the board since the last AGM.

New AgriSearch Chairman Gerry Boyle said, “I would like to warmly welcome Crosby, Sam and Alan to the Board of Trustees and look forward to working with them.

“The Northern Ireland ruminant livestock sector is facing a time of unprecedented challenges and AgriSearch is privileged to have secured the services of three such well qualified and experienced Trustees who will be invaluable in helping AgriSearch adapt to continue to meet the needs of the sector.

“I would also like to thank Seamus McCaffrey for Chairing the organisation over the past two years.

In addition I extend my thanks to Wilbert Mayne, who stood down from the Board at the AGM, and Martyn Blair and Peter Morrow, who both stood down earlier in the year, for the valuable contribution they made to the Board.”