Mountbellew Agricultural College is to undergo a €3.2m redevelopment into an innovation and learning centre, to include a €1m investment in the farm. Student numbers at the Galway college have increased from under 400 in 2011 to 860 in the current academic year and principal Tom Burke said the aim is to maintain student numbers between 850 and 1,000.

Strategic development

The strategic development plan, launched by European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan recently, includes an investment of €200,000 per year in the college farm, or €1m over the lifetime of the plan.

The college will take full control of the dairy and drystock enterprises, the latter by taking a 10-year lease from the Franciscan brothers, who established the college in 1904.

Funds will be spent on developing a research platform for students, upgrading facilities and introducing the latest genetics and farming systems for students to learn from. For dairying, this includes the establishment of a Jersey crossbred herd alongside a Holstein herd.

The college will develop existing strong partnerships with Teagasc, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, the Department of Education and Skills and the Franciscan order, along with developing a relationship with National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) to become a research service provider.