"This is 5% above the target which we are expected to achieve two years hence. So to say that we are on course in terms of meeting our objectives is somewhat of an understatement. This success reflects the way in which the new organisation has bedded in. And I have to congratulate all our staff in making this possible."
The aforementioned 15% of total revenues works out at £6.2 million. In achieving this AFBI has had staff representing its interests in locations throughout the British Isles, Europe, North America and South America.
"And we want to build on this for the future," stressed Sean Hogan.
"We have recently appointed a commercial manager who will be tasked with the all-important job of securing new business for this organisation. There are lots of opportunities presenting themselves in this context both at home and abroad. We want to make sure that we avail of these both for the good of AFBI but also the local economy as a whole."
He added: "AFBI was set up two years ago as a Non Government Departmental Body. We are not a quango and we will not be a drain on the public purse. AFBI must be able to stand on its own two feet from a financial point of view.
"It is for this reason that the organisation will be managed along strict business lines. It is, therefore, important that we have an active marketing presence internationally.
"It was against this background that the decision to appoint a commercial manager was taken."
AFBI became operational on April 1st 2006. In essence it represents the amalgamation of the former DARD Science Service and ARINI (Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland). Although a Non Government Departmental Body, Sean Hogan admits that AFBI has not been sheltered from the financial savings expected to be made by all public sector bodies over the coming three years .
"In our case the figures work out at £0.7 million in 08/09; £1.4 million in 09/10 and £2.1 million in 10/11," he told Farming Life.
"In the old days DARD Science Service and ARINI would have had no option in these circumstances but to cut staff numbers and research programmes. However, given our new dispensation and the fact that we can secure external sources of revenues we will not be cutting staff numbers or cutting back on the work programmes that we have in train. Obviously, this is good news for everyone employed by AFBI but also for the economy as a whole. It means we can retain a core mass which will allow us to represent a centre of research excellence on behalf of Northern Ireland's entire economy.
Sean Hogan also believes that the recent Bluetongue outbreak has confirmed that AFBI can deliver an effective emergency response service against the ongoing threat of the many epizootic diseases now spreading around the world.
"We carry out all the required Bluetongue testing of animals coming in Northern Ireland at our Veterinary Science Testing Division laboratories in Belfast," confirmed the AFBI chairman. "Our staff also provided an immediate response to the very real challenge posed by the recent Bluetongue scare in Co Antrim, working in close liaison with DARD staff."
"But the threat of epizootic disease such as Bluetongue, Avain Flu and Foot & Mouth will not go away. So AFBI must be in a position to deliver an even more effective response in these evolving circumstances. This means having access to state of the art laboratory facilities. As a result of this we will be putting a business plan to the Department of Finance and Personnel for a the development Category Four facility at Veterinary Science Division later this year.
With regard to ongoing research targets for AFB, its chairman pointed to the importance of the work currently ongoing in renewable energy.
"A renewable energy research centre is under construction at Hillsborough and in the autumn we will be hosting a major renewables conference in the Slieve Donard Hotel
"This event is already creating tremendous interest with potential delegates in countries around the world and, courtesy of sponsorship, will be entirely self financing."
With regard to research with a production agriculture focus, the AFBI chairman pointed to the current close working relationship between his organisation and CAFRE.
"AgriSearch is doing an extremely important job in this regard," he said.
However, there is also an ongoing partnership role for the commercial sector in developing this type of work. Farmers need access to the information generated from this type of applied research as quickly and effectively as possible. I am in no doubt the new Focus Farms programme will play an important role in this context.
Sean Hogan made his comments to Farming Life following an open forum hosted by AFBI to launch its annual report for 2006/07.
"The report's publication was delayed until matters relating to the our staff's pension arrangements were fully ironed out," he admitted.
"However, these issues have now been resolved and our annual report for the current year will be published in the autumn. As chairman I am happy that the key objectives laid down for AFBI are being met. Chief among these has been the success bedding down of the new organisation. All our staff have worked tremendously hard and I would like to commend them for this."
He concluded: "AFBI is a scientific research and analytical testing service that is available to all sections of the local economy, both private and public. And I would like to take this opportunity of reminding other public sector organisations that we can meet their science needs without having to go to the expense and trouble of duplicating what is already n their doorstep.