New IFA Economist Appointed
IFA has announced that Dr Edel Kelly has been appointed as IFA Economist. Dr Kelly, who is from a farming background in Galway, will take up the role on June 18th next.
She is currently a Lecturer/Assistant Professor of Economics at UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science, working in the Agri-Business and Rural Development division of the School.
In 2014, Dr Kelly was awarded a Doctorate from Dublin City University Business School, having previously qualified with an MA in Economic Policy Evaluation and Planning at the National University of Ireland Galway, where she also completed her undergraduate degree in Economics and Legal Science.
Dr Kelly completed her doctoral thesis on land management practices, as part of a Walsh Fellowship. She has previously worked with Teagasc on an EU-funded research project looking at measuring sustainability at farm level and on a Safefood-funded project in UCC looking at trust in the value chain during a food crisis.
IFA Director General Damian McDonald said, “We are delighted to welcome Edel to the IFA. This is a crucial period for the agriculture sector, as the outcome of both Brexit and CAP reform will shape Irish and European farming for the next decade”.
Dr Edel Kelly said, “I am very much looking forward to taking up the position of Economist with the IFA, particularly given the Association’s role in defending farmers against the twin challenges of Brexit and CAP reform. I look forward to using existing research from our Irish institutes to articulate on behalf of farmers and to reinforce agriculture’s important place within the Irish economy. I hope that my work will help to support and secure a sustainable position for Irish farmers and their families”.
Dr. Kelly will retain academic links with UCD for the 2018/19 academic year. “We look forward to building on our links with UCD in the Agricultural Economics field and exploring potential research initiatives, which could inform and add value to policy formulation in the sector,” said Damian McDonald.
