The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) today (Thursday) welcomed the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to its Hillsborough site.

The Committee hosted a meeting in the AFBI offices before being given a tour of the research farm gaining an insight into the vital work that the Institute leads on.

Welcoming the Committee to AFBI Hillsborough, AFBI Chief Executive, Dr Stanley McDowell said, “It was an honour to welcome the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affair to our Hillsborough farm today. This visit has provided us with an opportunity to update MLAs on the significant scientific research that is being undertaken by AFBI both at Hillsborough and at our sites across Northern Ireland.

“AFBI researchers are at the forefront of scientific developments across a number of areas including agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and the briefing with the Committee allowed us to showcase how AFBI continues to delivery science-based solutions to inform sustainable food production and addressing environmental impact within a changing climate.”

The MLAs were provided with more information on the scale of the scientific research that is undertaken at the farm and its wide and far-reaching impacts, not only within the academic sphere but also within farming community in Northern Ireland and beyond.

The senior management team at AFBI also provided a detailed briefing to the committee and provided insights into how AFBI’s cutting-edge research can help create a net zero nature positive future, that supports sustainable agriculture and thriving rural communities.

Specialising in sustainable livestock production and animal welfare, AFBI Hillsborough is committed to the mitigation of environmental impact from livestock and agriculture-related alternative energy sources.