Professor Gerry Boyle:

We lease land from farmers. For example, the famous Curtins Farm in Moorepark is leased. The land on the agricultural colleges, such as the 158 ha we own at Kildalton college, is primarily used for educational projects and the training of students. However, we have taken the decision in recent years to also locate significant research projects on all of our college farms. For example, we have a major project on the way at Clonakilty agricultural college on the use of clover in rye grass swards which has been generating really interesting results of international significance. On the Kildalton site we have what we call a sustainable farm. It is early days, but our intention there is to establish a farm that meets the full spectrum of demanding sustainability requirements but is commercial. That is a research project. For several years we have had a research programme under way at Ballyhaise college on dairying in the region. That project has established that it is possible to generate significant profits in a more challenging landscape than Moorepark. Our plan has been to have a research programme under way in the colleges.