Review of AFBI

The past year has been dominated by the development of an AFBI strategy to chart the course of the Institute to a sustainable future over the next five years. The main objective of the strategy is to allow AFBI to achieve its vision of providing world class science to all its government and private sector customers within the constraints of the pressures on public finances.

2020 strategy

AFBI’s “2020 Strategy” has necessarily been heavily influenced by the current unprecedented pressures on Northern Ireland public sector finances. Of major relevance to the local veterinary profession and farming industry is the DARD Minister’s decision to continue funding for the Omagh veterinary laboratory so that it can continue to provide an effective animal disease diagnostic and surveillance service in its catchment area. To reduce operating costs, several ancillary testing functions will be centralised at AFBI Stormont, but this change will not impact the front line service delivered at Omagh.

DARD Minister Michelle O’Neill has indicated her support for bidding to the Northern Ireland Executive for large scale investment in AFBI’s estate over the next few years. Subject to obtaining the necessary capital funding, this investment would far surpass any other investment that DARD has contemplated in its estate for many years. AFBI has therefore been working closely with the department to prepare outline business cases for replacement of the VSD Main Building at Stoney Road and for a new AFBI Headquarters/Grassland and Plant Science Centre. A master plan for development of the farm buildings at AFBI’s research farm at Hillsborough has also been prepared.

The pressures on public finances have unfortunately meant that AFBI has had to reduce its staff complement of just under 800 by at least 22% this year, through a combination of a voluntary exit scheme and natural wastage.

Scientific functions have also been re-prioritised on the basis of importance to protection of the agri-food industry and to DARD policy, strategic importance to AFBI’s science base, the availability of a “critical mass” of staff, and external funding opportunities. The prioritised “scientific pillars” are:

 

• animal health (Stoney Rd and Omagh);
• sustainable livestock systems research (Hillsborough and Loughgall);
• plant health and crop science (Newforge and Loughgall);
• food safety (Stormont and Newforge);
• food science (Newforge but with potential relocation to CAFRE Loughry);
• environmental protection (Newforge, Hillsborough, Loughgall);
• fisheries and aquatic ecosystems (Newforge and Bushmills); and
• agricultural and food economics (Newforge).

Although AFBI will cease cereal crop research and a considerable proportion of its plant variety testing with closure of its Crossnacreevy site in four years’ time, AFBI will continue to provide a “one-stop shop” for a wide range of inter-disciplinary science.

A major milestone in the eradication of brucellosis was achieved this year when Northern Ireland was granted Officially Brucellosis Free status by the European Commission. This means that AFBI’s Veterinary Sciences Division has already this year been able to effect a major reduction in the volume of brucella tests carried out (previously circa 1.5 million per annum).

 

Following the ground breaking work of scientists in AFBI and the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh on the heritability of the susceptibility of cattle to tuberculosis (TB), it is hoped that genetic evaluations for TB resistance will be made available for dairy sires in the near future. Further collaborative research is underway to determine whether genetic gain for this trait can be accelerated via genomic selection. The use of such sires should lead to the development of increased resistance to TB in cattle populations which, while not 100% resistance, is another weapon in the fight against this disease.

Each year AFBI hosts a large number of visits by local and international groups. Examples this year included:

• A conference of the European Veterinary Surveillance Network in October. The main purpose of that event, which was attended by over 40 delegates from a range of European countries, was to discuss methods of animal disease surveillance and recent surveillance findings in Europe.
• ​As is long standing custom, AFBI Omagh was once again privileged to host the annual Open Day of Association of Veterinary Surgeons Practising in Northern Ireland in January with a very large attendance.
• A conference highlight in the coming year will be AFBI’s hosting of the European Federation of Animal Science in Belfast from 29 August to 2 September 2016. Over 1200 delegates are expected at the event which will be held in the (by then) newly extended Waterfront Hall.

By delivering world class science to the requirements of all our customers, AFBI will continue to pursue a strategy of supporting government policy and the local agri-food industry in its goal of sustainable expansion. While the current and anticipated budget pressures and consequent reductions in work areas and staffing will have a significant impact on the Institute’s capacity to deliver in the short term, a renewed focus on a reduced number of prioritised functions, together with appropriate organisational change, will allow AFBI to develop a financially and scientifically secure future.
 

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 028 9025 5326.

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