Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute

Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute

@afbini.gov.uk

AFBI is NI's largest agri-food science organisation with a broad remit spanning agri-food, animal & plant health, food safety & environmental & marine sciences www.afbini.gov.uk

108 followers97 following105 posts

Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute
@afbini.gov.uk

Scientist Dr Qingxiao Liang from AFBI’s lakes team presenting her research at the 57th Institute of Fisheries Management Conference in Lincoln on invasive species in the Lough Neagh Catchment. #AFBIScience #AFBIResearch #LoughNeagh

Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute
@afbini.gov.uk

📸 THROWBACK THURSDAY | Then & Now From Young Farmers in 1937 to students in the 2026 Schools Open Day, Hillsborough has inspired future generations for almost a century. These photographs showcase the lasting connection between agricultural education, research and careers in the agri-food sector.

Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute
@afbini.gov.uk

🌱AFBI Hillsborough was pleased to host a recent meeting of the Ulster Grassland Society. 🌿The society is for anyone interested in grass and forage crops and includes members from across Northern Ireland, including Dr Gillian Young, Head of the AFBI Grass Breeding Research Programme.

Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute
@afbini.gov.uk

📸 THROWBACK THURSDAY From recording bird performance to assessing eggs, poultry research has been part of life at Hillsborough for generations. As we celebrate 100 years, we're recognising the staff whose work helped build a legacy in agricultural science. Read more: bit.ly/3PuoCE2 #AFBIScience

Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute
@afbini.gov.uk

A century of science is built on the people behind it. As part of #Hillsborough100, Professor Fred Gordon looks back on 38 years of innovation, collaboration and discoveries that helped shape modern dairy farming. 🔗 Read Fred's story: bit.ly/4ii3Xz1 #AFBIScience #AFBIResearch 🐄🥛🔬

Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute
@afbini.gov.uk

THROWBACK THURSDAY 💡Did you know? The Hillsborough Long-Term Slurry Experiment has been generating valuable insights for over 50 years, making it the world’s longest-running grassland slurry study. #Hillsborough100 #AFBIScience

Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute
@afbini.gov.uk

AFBI would like to alert cattle farmers we are now in a high risk period for parasitic pneumonia & fatal cases of hoose have already been diagnosed in calves examined at AFBI laboratories during the current grazing season. Read more: 🔗bit.ly/4yMKNqF #AFBIScience

Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute
@afbini.gov.uk

Dr Gary Lyons & Dr Shannon McIvor spoke to visiting Nuffield Scholars at AFBI on research tackling environmental challenges in farm slurry management—covering greenhouse gas & ammonia reduction, and how slurry separation can improve water quality 🌱 #AFBIScience #AFBIResearch

Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute
@afbini.gov.uk

AFBI's Dr Gary Lyons speaking at one of the Bioeconomy Sessions on the potential for large scale slurry processing to produce bioenergy & also reduce phosphorus loss to bodies water at the recent Agriculture and Land-use in Ireland - Pathways to a Sustainable Future Conference. #AFBIScience

Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute
@afbini.gov.uk

Plenary lecture on Day 2 of Agriculture & Land use in Ireland Conference from AFBI's Dr Rachel Cassidy on One Island, Many Rivers: Comparing Water Quality Stressors and Climate Induced Vulnerabilities in Agricultural Catchments #AFBIresearch #AFBIscience

Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute
@afbini.gov.uk

#AFBI research on biochar represented today at the Agriculture & Land Use Conference, Portlaoise (26/27 May) with poster presentation by Christina van Midden on Evaluating P release efficiency of duo-biochar to spring wheat #AFBIScience #AFBIResearch #SNHS_NI #auburn_university

Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute
@afbini.gov.uk

🌱Maelle Fresne with her poster presentation at the Agriculture & Land Use Conference, Portlaoise held recently on Estimation of Total P loading in large river catchment: impacts of sample frequency and load calculation method. #AFBIScience #AFBIResearch #snhs_NI #real_data

Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute
@afbini.gov.uk

Carbon research poster presentation by Chris Chagumaira recently at the Agriculture & Land Use Conference, Portlaoise on Factors influencing soil C stocks & sequestration rates in N Ireland. #AFBIScience #AFBIResearch #SNHS_NI

Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute
@afbini.gov.uk

The Soil Nutrient Health Scheme was represented at the Agriculture & Land Use Conference, Portlaoise held on 26/27 May with a poster presentation by Luke Farrow on Quantifying Aboveground Biomass at the National Scale. #AFBIScience #AFBIResearch #SNHS_NI

Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute
@afbini.gov.uk

AFBI has published the Jan - Mar 2026 Animal Disease Surveillance Report. Based on post-mortem examination of carcasses submitted to the AFBI labs, it provides accurate diagnoses & identifies underlying causes of mortality: bit.ly/4dVC4J6 #Veterinaryscience #DiseaseSurveillance #AnimalHealth

Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute
@afbini.gov.uk

Detailed analysis of soils across NI has revealed that hedgerows support more diverse and spatially variable microbial communities and greater carbon stock above and below ground than adjacent agricultural fields. #AFBIScience #AFBIResearch

Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute
@afbini.gov.uk

CliBeef, a cross-border project with the key goal of helping farmers produce climate-friendly beef led by AFBI & delivered in partnership with Teagasc, Ireland’s agriculture & food development authority, Queen's University Belfast & AgriSearch NI was launched today. 🔗http://bit.ly/3RadU5P

Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute
@afbini.gov.uk

🐮The countdown is on! 🐑Only 7 days to the start of the Balmoral Show, Northern Irelands leading agricultural event. 📅Weds 13 - Sat 16 May. ➡️Eikon Exhibition Centre, Lisburn. 🐖AFBI will be at Stand EK1 in the Government Departments Exhibition – we hope to see you there!

Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute
@afbini.gov.uk

DAERA announces the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme (SNHS) to be reopened for final mop-up phase this summer, with sampling this autumn/winter bit.ly/4td0dQV. Details on opening period for online registration to follow. #AFBIScience #AFBIResearch #SNHS_NI

bit.lyLast chance for farm businesses to sign up to Soil Nutrient Health SchemeThe Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is reopening the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme for a final mop-up phase this summer.
Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute
@afbini.gov.uk

📅2 weeks to the start of the Balmoral Show where AFBI will be showcasing its research into sustainable, resilient and prosperous farming systems to visitors. 🌞Be sure to call by and see us in the Government Departments Exhibition at Stand EK1. 👩‍🔬See you then.

Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute
@afbini.gov.uk

“It’s very hard to stop. And we are likely to see more and more incursions in Northern Ireland.” Monitoring for Asian Hornets is beginning in east Belfast over the next few months. It follows the discovery of a nest in Dundonald in October 2025 ... www.facebook.com/watch/?v=992...

facebook.com7.1K views · 47 reactions | “It’s very hard to stop. And we are likely to see more and more incursions in Northern Ireland.” Monitoring for Asian Hornets is beginning in east Belfast over the next few months. It follows the discovery of a nest in Dundonald in October 2025. Dr Florentine Spaans from AFBI explains the monitoring by Northern Ireland Environment Agency due to the potential emergence of new queens and why they have to be “vigilant.” | Irish News“It’s very hard to stop. And we are likely to see more and more incursions in Northern Ireland.” Monitoring for Asian Hornets is beginning in east Belfast over the next few months. It follows the...
Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute
@afbini.gov.uk

🐮3 weeks to go until the start of the Balmoral Show & preparations are well underway in AFBI. Call by and meet us in the Government Departments Exhibition over the 4 days of the show. We will be sharing more updates in the lead up to the event. 😎See you there! 📅13-16 May

Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute
@afbini.gov.uk

🐟To strengthen climate change resilience and coastal community engagement in Irish seas, 3 independent projects supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the @SEUPB were launched on Thurs 26 March at a joint event hosted by @AFBI_NI in Belfast 📰https://bit.ly/4uVevYw