Dow Agri-Sciences and Barenbrug visit AFBI

Dow Agri-Sciences European Division staff recently held a meeting in Ireland and included a visit to the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute’s (AFBI) grass breeding programme at Loughgall as part of their schedule. This visit was arranged in conjunction with international seed specialist Barenbrug, who has been the commercial partner on the AFBI grass breeding programme since 1991.

Dow is a multinational company with wide interests in the agricultural and horticultural industries.  The visitors were very impressed by the extensive AFBI grass breeding programme, with several thousand trial plots at Loughgall and additional testing of new grasses in Great Britain, continental Europe, the United States and New Zealand. Of particular interest were AFBI’s grasses which have been produced with wide genetic background, combining favourable attributes such as disease resistance and winter hardiness.

AFBI is using this approach to generate new varieties for potential markets in south America.  Dow staff were interested to see how laboratory procedures such as Near Infra Red Spectroscopy and digital image analysis are helping AFBI to make significant improvements in grass nutritional quality and disease resistance.

Notes to editors: 

AFBI carries out high quality technology research and development, statutory, analytical, and diagnostic testing functions for DARD and other Government departments, public bodies and commercial companies. 

AFBI's Vision is “Scientific excellence in Northern Ireland …  serving the world”.

All media enquiries to AFBI Press Office.

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