North Carolina State University and Michigan State University staff and students visit AFBI

Thirty one agriculture students and staff from North Carolina State University were recently hosted by AFBI Grassland and Plant Science Branch (GPS) staff at AFBI Newforge (Richard O’Hanlon, Colin Fleming and Trevor Martin). The group was nearing the end of a two week agricultural tour of Northern Ireland and Ireland, and chose to visit GPS because of its comprehensive plant health expertise.

Staff of AFBI GPS briefed the group on the plant health testing and research currently undertaken in AFBI, as well as leading the visitors on tours of the plant pathology, diagnostics, and nematology laboratories in Newforge. North Carolina State University has recently secured a major investment ($160 million) in a new plant sciences research complex which aims to make the University a world leader in areas of plant science including abiotic and biotic stress, precision agriculture as well as microbiome research.

Kristin Getter and Dr Susan Gruber with students from the Department of Horticulture at Michigan State University also visited Grassland and Plant Science Branch at AFBI Loughgall recently as part of their faculty lead study programme abroad. 

The afternoon tours included visits to the high density pear and apple orchards and the Cornell USA root stock trial with Dr Seán Mac an tSaoir. Subsequently, the students toured the mushroom research facility and debated contrasting pathogen control strategies for Trichoderma aggressivum under strictly controlled environment conditions from a mushroom and composting perspective with Mairéad Kilpatrick.

Notes to editors: 

AFBI carries out high quality technology research and development, statutory, analytical, and diagnostic testing functions for DAERA 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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