The director of Teagasc, Dr Jim Flanagan, is to quit the top post in the authority this month when he reaches eligibility for a full pension, but will continue to work on a part-time basis there until 2009.
Mr Flanagan, who was at the centre of a major row between the organisation and the farming groups over the controversial nitrates plan earlier this year, told the Teagasc board of his decision yesterday.
Teagasc had provided the scientific information for the drawing up of the nitrates plan with which the farm organisations deeply disagreed.
As a result of that, the farm organisations, with the exception of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, withdrew from the national partnership talks for a time.
In addition, the Irish Farmers' Association sought a vote of no confidence in Mr Flanagan at Teagasc board level and withdrew its co-operation and financial support from the organisation.
It boycotted one of the main Teagasc events of the year - the national tillage conference - and called for Mr Flanagan's resignation.
Mr Flanagan was appointed director of Teagasc in April 2002 while he was chief inspector in the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development.
He oversaw a major slimming down of the Teagasc organisation, which included the sale of its Dublin 4 headquarters and the transfer of its headquarters to Oak Park in Carlow.
The major reorganisation of Teagasc saw the closure of many of its local offices and some of the agricultural colleges it operated.
From a farming background in Roscommon, Mr Flanagan is a graduate in agricultural science from the National University of Ireland and holds a MAgrSc from NUI and MSc (Mgmt) from Trinity College Dublin.
He spent his early career as a research scientist and lecturer in Michigan State University and West Virginia University.
He had worked in the Department of Agriculture since 1972 and was appointed chief inspector in 1995, with responsibility for managing the department's agricultural technical/professional structure.
It was announced yesterday that Mr Flanagan had accepted a contract to provide services as corporate strategist to Teagasc on a part-time basis up to the end of 2009.
"In this role he will play an active part, in particular, in ensuring that Teagasc fully participates in delivering the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation recently published by the Government," said a statement issued by the board.
The chairman of the Teagasc authority, Dr Tom O'Dwyer, thanked Mr Flanagan for his commitment and dedication to Teagasc and said he looked forward to working with him in this new and challenging role, where he will continue to make a significant contribution to Teagasc in the future.
The current director of administration, Tom Kirley, will take over as acting director of Teagasc until a new appointment is made early next year.