The open board meeting focused on the presentation of the annual report and accounts 2006-07, the development of a corporate business plan for 2008-2011 and highlighting the scientific achievements since AFBI's creation in 2006.
Sean Hogan, chairman of the AFBI Board, said: "A lot of hard work has gone into the Institute's first two years since it was formed. I am delighted with the successful establishment of AFBI. We have sorted out our governance arrangements, financial systems and our Human Resource systems.
"Our corporate plan, for the next three years, is being developed to take into consideration the strategic direction of both the business and science programmes. In particular, building on our success in maintaining existing business and more than doubling non-DARD income to the current level of £6.2 million (much from outside NI). We are also strategically enhancing our scientific skill base in many target areas such as Environment and Renewable Energy. We are doing this while maintaining our emergency response capability as demonstrated by AFBI's recent provision to DARD of testing and scientific advice on Bluetongue disease.''
Mr Hogan acknowledged the tremendous support from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Minister, Michelle Gildernew, other Departments, MEPs, the Executive and, indeed, the Assembly and all the organisation's stakeholders.
"This support has been fundamental in successfully establishing the new Institute and securing a sustainable future as the major supplier of science to the NI economy and community. I also want to pay tribute to the efforts of our dedicated and professional staff over the past two years and thank the Board for their unstinting support and strategic guidance,'' he said.