In the presence of Han Changfu, Chinese Minister of Agriculture, and Simon Coveney, Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS) of CAAS, University College Dublin and Richard Keenan and Co., signed an agreement on the establishment of the China-Ireland Dairy Science and Technology Centre (hereinafter as “the Centre”), on November 3, 2014 in Beijing.


The Centre was initiated by Professor Li Ming, the Director General of IAS and Dr. Bu Dengpan after abundant academic exchanges and visits over years. It is a platform for training and education, technology extension and research.

The Centre will focus in particular on Ffeed Conversion conversion Efficiencyefficiency, milk quality improvement, and animal health through a series of pilot projects, aiming to create an efficient production model for small to medium dairy farms in China.
Within 3-5 years, the Centre will promote a model whereby Chinese farmers will increase their yield per cow by 1000 litres, and add another lactation to the cow’s life, without extra concentrate feeding.

Through the preparation and establishment of the Centre, increased opportunities for deeper dialogue between China and Ireland’s Diary Sectors can promote and undertake research and exchange to improve the efficiency and sustainability of China’s Dairy Sector and build stronger links and substantial partnership between China and Ireland.