AFBI

Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute

The Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute (AFBI) carries out high technology research and development, statutory, analytical, and diagnostic testing functions for DAERA and other Government departments, public bodies and commercial companies. AFBI is forging new partnerships with other scientific institutes and research organisations and extending the range of services it offers.  This enables AFBI’s unique breadth of scientific capabilities in the areas of agriculture, animal health, food, environment and biosciences to be offered to a wider prospective national and international customer base.

AFBI have developed and maintain oceanographic and environmental monitoring programmes throughout the region, with activities and key time-series adopted as sentinel indicator sites for UK MSFD policy reporting. AFBI are founder members of the collaborative UK-IMON initiative and work on the steering committee to ensure integrated monitoring across the wider UK and Irish region. Amongst its portfolio of fisheries research and monitoring, AFBI carries out sea trout and salmon research, undertakes research to assist with the designation of Marine Protected Areas, and maintains a significant number of domestic and international collaborations to ensure the highest standard of marine environmental research.