Two US Governors Visit NovaUCD During One Health x AgTech Summit

Two US Governors, Kim Reynolds, Governor of Iowa and Laura Kelly, Governor of Kansas visited NovaUCD last Friday (22 August) as part of the two-day One Health x AgTech Summit organised by Enterprise Ireland and University College Dublin (UCD) to foster links between researchers, academics, policymakers, and industry leaders from Ireland and the United States.

The Summit, which took place at NovaUCD and at the AgTechUCD Innovation Centre at UCD Lyons Farm, was one of several events associated with the Aer Lingus College Football Classic between Iowa State University (Cyclones) and Kansas State University (Wildcats) which took place in the Aviva Stadium.

Governor Reynolds and Governor Kelly were welcomed to NovaUCD by Professor Orla Feely, UCD President who also welcomed Peter Burke TD, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, President Richard Linton of Kansas State University, President Wendy Wintersteen of Iowa State University and senior representatives of Enterprise Ireland.

Pictured (l-r) at NovaUCD are Triona McCormack, Vice-President for Strategy and External Engagement, UCD ; Dr Wendy Wintersteen, President of Iowa State University; Governor Kim Reynolds; Minister Peter Burke TD; Governor Laura Kelly;  Dr Richard Linton, President of Kansas State University; Professor Orla Feely, President, UCD and Marina Donohoe, Divisional Manager, Research, Innovation and Infrastructure, Enterprise Ireland.

The Summit was attended by academics from Kansas State and Iowa State, along with senior leaders from US AgTech companies, who met with UCD academics along with Enterprise Ireland supported AgTech companies and members of the wider AgTech ecosystem in Ireland.

Governor Reynolds of Iowa also attended the One Health x AgTech summit at UCD Lyons Farm.

Centre pictured at UCD Lyons Farm are; Kevin Sherry, Executive Director, Enterprise Ireland, Professor Rory Breathnach, Dean and Head of the UCD School of Veterinary Medicine; Governor Kim Reynolds and Kevin Reynolds, First Gentleman, State of Iowa, with attendees at the One Health x AgTech Summit.

Among the topics discussed during the One Health x AgTech Summit were; innovation in the dairy industry; advancing animal health and welfare; sustainable climate-resilient agri-food systems; precision farming through data intelligence; creating new start-ups in agritech and food, with FAST-IP as an example, industry partnerships and Irish companies scaling in the US.

During the Summit UCD joined forces with Kansas State University and Iowa State University to establish a new international partnership in veterinary medicine.

The three universities signed an MoU to strengthen academic exchange and advance global research collaboration between Ireland and the US.

Dan Grooms, the Dr Stephen G. Juelsgaard Dean of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University; Dr Wendy Wintersteen, President Iowa State University; Professor Rory Breathnach, Dean and Head of the UCD School of Veterinary Medicine; Professor Orla Feely, President, University College Dublin; Dr Richard Linton, President Kansas State University, and Professor Beth Davis, interim dean of K-State College of Veterinary Medicine. Credit: K-State News and Communications Services

"This agreement is the culmination of highly valued collaborative efforts from all institutions involved to further enhance the educational experience for our students," said UCD President, Professor Orla Feely.

"This partnership will provide tremendous value to our College of Veterinary Medicine," added Professor Beth Davis, interim dean of Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

"As a next-generation land-grant university, forging important partnerships like this helps our K-State veterinary medicine students, researchers and faculty members to do good in Kansas and across the world."

Through the partnership, the institutions will promote academic mobility, receive undergraduate and graduate students for study and research placements, and organise joint symposia, conferences, and continuing education programmes.

The collaboration also seeks to share expertise and knowledge in areas such as antimicrobial resistance, animal health, and agricultural innovation.

"Antimicrobial resistance impacts animals, humans, the environment and plants,” said Dan Grooms, the Dr. Stephen G. Juelsgaard Dean of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State.

“There are valuable perspectives that come from conversations with people around the world to understand how we combat antimicrobial resistance. The practicalities of what can and cannot be done are different in other countries, which is why we must think of this at a global level."

The partnership builds on existing collaborations between the universities and is expected to expand opportunities for students, researchers, and industry partners while advancing solutions to global veterinary and agricultural challenges.

ENDS

25 August 2025

For further information contact Micéal Whelan, Communications and Media Relations Manager, NovaUCD, UCD Research and Innovation, e: (opens in a new window)miceal.whelan@ucd.ie.