Small Talk with David Dowd of CAFRE

Pictured: David Dowd

David discusses his career journey, the impact of the Green Legacy Hiroshima initiative, and the future of Irish horticulture. He highlights the industry’s challenges, opportunities, and the importance of education in shaping its future

Horticulture

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18 September 2024

In association with Tully Nurseries

At Growtrade, we’re running an interview series titled ‘Small Talk’, where we talk to various influential members of Ireland’s horticulture trade. This month’s conversation is with David Dowd, head of Horticulture Branch, College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE).

How did you get your start in horticulture?

My initial interest in horticulture came from working in my father’s vegetable garden.

Growing your own food was something I took for granted but I now have a great appreciation of all the knowledge and skills I gained. My uncle was a professional gardener so I was always aware of horticulture as a career.

I volunteered with a nature conservation organisation for a number of years and really enjoyed working on environmental projects and it was then that I decided to embark on a career in Horticulture.

My professional journey in horticulture started when I completed a Degree in Horticulture at the National Botanic Gardens, Dublin and then progressed to a Masters in Sustainable Development at the Dublin Institute of Technology. I worked in a number of areas including garden centre retail and historic gardens before taking up a lecturing role at CAFRE.

What was one of the proudest moments in your career to date?

During the COVID pandemic, I applied for CAFRE to become a partner of the Green Legacy Hiroshima (GLH) initiative. GLH gathers seeds from trees that survived the atomic bomb that was detonated over the Japanese city of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945 and distributes these seeds to partner organisations around the world.

Greenmount Campus has excellent horticultural staff and facilities so I knew that we would be able to take on the long term responsibility of nurturing and growing these remarkable trees and we were delighted to be accepted as a partner organisation.

Since then our relationship with GLH has continued to grow and CAFRE is now GLH’s Regional Seed Distribution Hub. In this role CAFRE distributes seeds and saplings of the survivor trees to a variety of organisations including Educational Institutions, Local Councils and Botanic Gardens around Europe.

It is inspiring to know that the seeds that we distribute are a beacon of hope and peace and that our horticulture skills can help spread this message.

Give us an example of a recent success you had in your work.

In 2021, I led the introduction of our new BSc in Horticulture programme which meant that Horticulture students could, for the first time, study for an Honours Degree in Northern Ireland. This programme presents an exciting opportunity for all those interested in management and senior technical level careers in the Northern Ireland horticulture industry.

Considering the growing importance and complexity of environmental issues and the need for increased productivity, resilience and supply chain connectivity in the agri-food industry having Degree level educated graduates is especially relevant today.

The Degree is validated by Ulster University and we worked with industry to design a programme that would produce graduates with the necessary knowledge and skills. The opportunity for students to progress to an Honours Degree programme is timely for the Northern Ireland horticulture industry as it is facing an exciting time ahead.

What are the greatest challenges facing the industry today?

Labour shortages in all levels and sectors of the horticulture industry continue to be a major ongoing issue. Employers not only struggle to find staff to fill short term seasonal roles but also qualified staff for technical and managerial roles. New technologies, such as robotics and artificial intelligence, offer a partial solution and open up opportunities for improved productivity.

However, they require a more technically qualified workforce with the knowledge and skills to integrate these new technologies. Also, given the diversity of highly specialised sectors within horticulture it is not always a priority for companies to develop these technologies. The ageing profile of the workforce adds to this problem with experienced staff retiring and no successors to replace them.

This is why it is so important to encourage more students to study horticulture. Well educated horticulturists are able to respond to the rapidly changing needs of the industry and help secure the future of the industry.

What are the greatest opportunities facing the industry today?

There is a growing awareness that Horticulture is at least part of the solution to so many of the sustainability issues facing society today. For example, the commercial horticulture production sector is well placed to grow domestic produce, rather than importing fruit, vegetables and ornamental plants.

This will not only improve food security, biosecurity and boost economic activity, it will help reduce our carbon footprint. With careful management this can be achieved without the consequential environmental impacts associated with growth in other industries. This potential for growth is reflected in the number of Government industry support programmes available or coming online across the UK and Ireland.

Amenity horticulture is also benefiting from the drive towards greater sustainability with horticulturists now finding roles in areas such as public health and community development. Being an industry that is recognised for sustainability will make it a more attractive career path for students who want a career that will offer good career prospects and where they can also make a difference.

What advice would you give to someone just starting their career in horticulture?

I would encourage them to start their careers by firstly getting a qualification. The time invested in becoming qualified will pay dividends in many ways throughout their careers.

Firstly, it gives you an excellent knowledge and skills base and exposes you to a range of horticulture sectors that you may not have considered, such as sports turf, crop production etc. Horticulture is a very diverse industry and it can be hard to know what area you will want to go into so a horticulture course opens fantastic opportunities to develop yourself through study tours, industry bursaries and competitions such as World Skills.

You will also make industry contacts through work placements and industry events. In terms of employment opportunities, you will be able to apply for a greater range of jobs with better pay and career prospects. Finally, it is great to be surrounded by people with the same passion as you and to feel part of a tribe.

What are your hopes for the future of Irish horticulture?

My hopes for the industry are that it continues to grow sustainably and gets the recognition it deserves for the important work it does.

CAFRE offers the opportunity to study a course which will lead to a career in agri-food and rural businesses. If you already work in the industry, CAFRE can help you to continue your professional development or assist you to upskill and innovate to stay ahead in the marketplace.

Small Talk is produced in association with Tully Nurseries, one of Ireland’s wholesale nurseries supplying landscape contractors, garden centres, DIYs and supermarkets in Ireland and the UK. For more visit tullynurseries.ie

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