AFBI hosts international agri-food forum in Belfast

“More From Less: Can Science Deliver?” was the theme of this year's international Agri-Food Forum held on 11 - 12 November at the magnificent Assembly Buildings in Belfast. The Forum involved over 60 senior scientists drawn from across the United States, Canada, Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, representing a wide range of Agri-Food disciplines.

The Forum was opened by Professor Seamus Kennedy, Chief Executive Officer of AFBI, who welcomed the impressive international audience for two intensive days of strategic thinking and exchange of ideas.

Professor Kennedy commented on the widely acknowledged success and resultant transatlantic collaborations on a number of specific projects from last year's inaugural AFBI-led Forum held in Washington DC, USA at the headquarters of the United States Department of Agriculture's "Agricultural Research Service". He commented that this year’s Forum reflected the growing recognition that the truly "big challenges" which all societies increasingly face, can best be met by means of large scale applied research collaboration with a truly international dimension, or in other words by "bringing the best brains to the table wherever they may reside".

This year key issues for discussion included: the impacts of climate change on crop and livestock production; and the need to improve food safety throughout the global supply chain and to maximise agricultural output by means of the latest technological tools without sacrificing nutritional quality.

The majority of attendees comprised senior government and academic scientists and decision makers drawn from the four nations but this year, unlike in Washington DC, also included a strong industry presence, largely in the form of representatives from local agri-food companies.  In addition, representatives from key funding agencies included Genome Canada, Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), the Republic's Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), and the European Union's funding agency, represented by Dr Ciaran Mangan.

The thinking behind this was clear.  Industry involvement at the outset provides a greater focus for scientific research in ensuring that it is aligned to industry needs and consumer-led demand.  Funding agencies also play an important role in supporting research to provide a critical evidence base for policy development and to support rural communities on both sides of the Atlantic.

Keynote presentations were provided by Genome Canada, the USDA, DAFM, DARD and the EU outlining national priorities across the agri-food sectors, together with an overview of existing funding mechanisms to support collaborative scientific research.  Other presentations over the two days were provided by Moy Park, Dunbia, Lakeland Dairies, Devenish Nutrition, Marine Harvest and SiSaf.  AFBI provided updates on research on livestock production, disease control and health strategies.
 

The plenary sessions were supplemented by eight highly focused and intensive thematic workshops, comprising 10-15 scientists with an interest in each specific scientific discipline. Workshops included poultry health and production challenges, precision agriculture, climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, food safety priorities and strategies, aquaculture and its food production priorities, challenges and opportunities.

Dr Sinclair Mayne, Director of AFBI’s Sustainable Agri-Food Sciences Division and convener of the Forum, commented ‘This was a highly successful Forum which highlighted the significant advances in livestock production which are occurring globally – particularly in the area of genomic selection. It is critical that the Northern Ireland livestock industry keeps up with these advances in order to remain competitive. With the limited research funds available locally, the most effective way of ensuring we have access to world leading research is through international collaboration’.

Dr Charles Walthall, of USDA added, "Another very interactive and productive forum, and I am already looking forward to next year's".
In conclusion, such is the growing collaborative momentum and appetite for establishing this important AFBI-led Forum within the annual scientific calendars across both sides of the Atlantic, that long before the close Dr Cindy Bell, Vice President of Genome Canada, and her colleague Dr Reno Pontarollo, President and CEO of Genome Prairie, were already openly discussing the venue for next year's event in Canada.

 
There is a genuine conviction that, by that time, a number of important collaborative research projects will be under way, each ultimately yielding tangible benefits for the four partnering nations and their communities.
 

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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