New AFBI and DLF partnership looking to grass varieties of the future

Speaking at the official launch of the new strategic partnership between AFBI and global seed company DLF at Loughgall, Dr Gillian Young told representatives from across the agri-food sector that the programme is working hard to meet the needs of farmers across Northern Ireland, Ireland and the UK amid a changing climate.

“Plant breeding is a long-term science,” she said.

“The varieties, germplasm resources and scientific knowledge that underpin our breeding programme are the result of many years of investment and research.

“If we wait for the drought to come, we're already too late. The resilience traits farmers will need in 10 or 15 years' time must be built into breeding populations today.

“For more than 70 years, the AFBI grass breeding programme at Loughgall has taken exactly that long-term approach.

“Farmers are facing many challenges, including climate change, nutrient use efficiency and the need to maintain profitable livestock systems.

“Our new partnership with DLF will work to help farmers face those challenges.”

As part of the launch to mark the new partnership, visitors toured AFBI’s grass breeding plots and nurseries at Loughgall and heard about new research focused on developing the next generation of grass varieties for Northern Ireland, Ireland and Britain.

Lee Wilson, General Manager of DLF Ireland, said: “What attracted DLF to this partnership was the combination of an outstanding breeding programme and a clear vision for where it can go next.

“The challenges facing farmers are changing rapidly and future progress will depend on continued investment in genetics, innovation and scientific capability.

“We see significant opportunities to work alongside AFBI to strengthen both the breeding and research platform at Loughgall.

“By bringing together complementary expertise, technologies and breeding experience, we can accelerate genetic improvement while ensuring that innovation continues to deliver practical benefits for farmers.”

The new partnership includes a commitment to strengthen research and innovation activities around forage breeding, creating opportunities for collaborative projects, PhD training and access to advanced breeding technologies and expertise.

The event also highlighted continued investment from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to AFBI Loughgall’s long-term grass breeding research through the recently commissioned ADVANCE programme.

ADVANCE will focus on developing perennial ryegrass germplasm with improved resilience to climate stress, greater nutrient use efficiency and enhanced forage quality through the application of advanced breeding, genomics and phenotyping technologies.

Dr Johnathan Dalzell, DAERA Senior Science Adviser, said: “Grassland remains one of Northern Ireland's primary agricultural resources.

“Through its support for the ADVANCE programme, DAERA is investing in the scientific capability needed to develop forage varieties that can help farmers respond to future challenges and the need to maintain productive and profitable farm businesses.”

Professor Elizabeth Magowan, Director of Sustainable Agri-Food Sciences at AFBI, said: “For decades, AFBI's scientists at Loughgall have been developing forage varieties specifically adapted to the farming and environmental conditions of Northern Ireland, while continuously investing in the research needed to address future challenges.

“Through the continued support of DAERA, and our new strategic partnership with DLF, we are building on that legacy.

“At a time when specialist plant breeding capacity is under increasing pressure internationally, it is important that Northern Ireland retains the ability to develop locally adapted solutions for local farming systems.”