DAVIS, CA – The long-standing "UCD Squared" partnership between University College Dublin (UCD) and the University of California, Davis, reached a new milestone following a high-level visit to the UC Davis campus.
During an event held as part of the Irish Government’s St Patrick’s Day programme, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, announced the 2025–2026 UCD² Joint Research Fund. Backed by €120,000, the fund will support six new projects focused on the intersection of One Health, sustainable food systems, and artificial intelligence.
Collaborative Innovation
The partnership, which began in 2014, aims to solve global challenges by linking two world-class centres of excellence in agri-food and veterinary research.
"By deepening collaboration, UCD Squared strengthens transatlantic research links and accelerates practical solutions for farmers, industry and society," said Minister Heydon during his tour of the UC Davis facilities.
Chancellor Gary S. May echoed this sentiment, stating, "By combining our expertise in sustainable agriculture, veterinary medicine, food innovation and data science, we are accelerating solutions that improve lives in California, Ireland and around the world."
Key Research and Leadership
The initiative is a priority for the UCD College of Health and Agricultural Sciences (CHAS), which leads global engagement efforts through this transatlantic alliance. Associate Professor Aifric O’Sullivan, Vice Principal for International at CHAS, was among the senior leaders present at the California event. Dr O'Sullivan has been instrumental in maintaining these institutional ties, drawing on her own experience as a former postdoctoral researcher at UC Davis.
The UCD Squared fund is strategically managed through the CHAS Global Engagement Group, which Dr O’Sullivan chairs. The newly funded projects pair researchers from both institutions to tackle diverse issues:
- AI in Veterinary Medicine: Led by Dr Conor McAloon (UCD) and Dr Pranav Pandit (UC Davis) to detect livestock disease outbreaks.
- Brassica Bites: Led by Dr Marco Garcia Vaquero (UCD) and Dr Daniela Barile (UC Davis) to upcycle cabbage waste into flour.
- One Health Education: An initiative led by Dr Marco Garcia Vaquero and Professor Michael Wilkes to train graduate students in global health.
- Circular AgriFood Exchange (CAFBIE): Led by Professor Nicholas M. Holden and Assistant Professor Edward Spang, involving transatlantic student teams to reduce food waste.
- FoodSpecAI: Led by Professor Claire Gormley and Assistant Professor Jairo Fúquene Patiño to improve bacterial detection.
- PSYCHEhD: Led by Professor Eileen Gibney and Assistant Professor Lauren Au to explore how AI supports sustainable food choices.
Picture - Team Ireland walking in the SF Parade on Sat 14th March. Some names left to right: Ciara Traynor, Deputy Consul General Maria Dunne Ass Secretary General DAFM (background) Brian Purcell, Special Advisor to Minister Aifric O'Sullivan, CHAS VP International Martin Heydon, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM)
Future Impact and Global Strategy
Looking ahead, the partnership aims to accelerate the development of practical, real-world solutions for the farming industry and wider society. This collaborative effort is expected to drive research innovation in climate-smart agriculture and One Health while simultaneously fostering the next generation of researchers and global problem-solvers.
The collaboration is also a key component of Ireland’s "Global Citizens 2030" strategy. Minister for Further and Higher Education, James Lawless, noted that the partnership "reflects our national ambition, linking Ireland with leading institutions in key regions." Strategically, the initiative aligns with this ambition to lead in scientific discovery, ultimately delivering transformative advances in sustainable food systems and data science that benefit both regions and the global public good.
Picture: Gift to Minister. Names left to right: Martin Heydon, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Gary May, Chancellor UC Davis
Aifric O'Sullivan, CHAS VP International
Gary May, Chancellor UC Davis
JoannaRegulska, Vice Provost and Dean
Pic L to R
Aifric O'Sullivan, CHAS VP International
Lauren Au, Associate Professor, Department of Nutrition and Seed Fund Winner
Gary May, Chancellor UC Davis
Daniela Barile, Professor, Department of Food Science and Technology and Seed Fund Winner