Agricultural Research in Northern Ireland reorganised

For more details see www.afbini.gov.uk

The Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute (AFBI) was created on 1st April 2006 through amalgamation of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) Science Service and the Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland (ARINI). AFBI carries out scientific research and development, statutory, analytical, and diagnostic testing functions for DARD and other Government departments, public bodies and private sector organisations. AFBI aims to forge new partnerships with other scientific institutes and research organisations and extend the range of services it can offer the areas of agriculture, animal health, food, environment and biosciences.

This follows an announcement by the Secretary of State on 27th February 2006 that a flagship Renewable Energy Centre of Excellence will be developed at the AFBI Hillsborough site to assist the agri-industry to maximise the potential of renewable energy. The new centre will be developed over a two year period and will include:

• Evaluation of SRC willow production with bioremediation of dirty water
• Woodchip drying and storage
• Biomass heating systems
• Other forms of forest biomass production
• Anerobic digestion of animal manure
• Combined heat and power (CHP) production utilising methane from the anaerobic digestion
• Liquid biofuel production from arable crops
• Heat recovery from cooling systems (freezers, milk coolers etc)
• Demonstration of other renewable energy technologies
• Demonstration of energy saving design and technology