AFBI celebrates 100 years of agricultural research at Hillsborough
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From early hay and silage trials to advancing global knowledge on driving livestock efficiency and reducing nutrient losses, the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute’s (AFBI) research farm at Hillsborough has been at the heart of agricultural science for a century.
AFBI Hillsborough officially launched its centenary celebrations at an event featuring staff past and present at the Balmoral Show.
A special 100 years section on AFBI’s website with never-seen-before photos and documents from its archive was also launched.
Established in 1926, just five years after Partition, the site at Hillsborough was bought by the Government of Northern Ireland for £25,000 following negotiations with the Ulster Farmers' Union and the Ulster Agricultural Organisation Society. The following year, the Agricultural Institute of Northern Ireland (ARINI) was officially established.
Over the next few decades, the Hillsborough site was at the forefront of huge advances in agriculture, from Harry Ferguson showing his new tractor plough in 1927 to the first silage trials in 1947.
It was those trials, which included comparisons of silage versus barn‑dried hay, which convinced farmers across Northern Ireland to make the shift to silage from 1948.
In the years which followed, Hillsborough was also heavily involved in important research into milk production and the development of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIR) which allowed farmers and nutritionists to analyse silage in minutes.
And years before ammonia emissions and greenhouse gases became central to agricultural policy, scientists at Hillsborough laid the foundations for today’s research.
Over three decades ago, work began to measure ammonia losses from slurry. Respiration chamber research represented another scientific breakthrough. This work, through measuring the metabolic performance of dairy cows, helped design the nutritional requirements of dairy cattle while also minimising losses of waste gases such as methane.
Work continues today to refine nutritional requirements aligned with genetic improvements and new dietary formulations. This research continues to be vital in ensuring the practices of the Northern Ireland farming industry are appropriately recognised in national accounting systems while also supporting innovation in livestock nutrition.
While ARINI was absorbed into AFBI in 2006, twenty years later AFBI Hillsborough remains at the cutting-edge of agricultural science, with international recognition.
The work programme at the site is extensive and spans all aspects of the farming system – from soil to grassland and animal research as well as slurry, fertilizer and wider land use sciences. At its core, the work provides farmers with the knowledge and solutions to harness opportunities and address challenges as a result of climate or legislation.
Professor Steven Morrison, now head of AFBI’s Sustainable Livestock Systems Branch, moved to the Hillsborough site when he was six and lived there for 28 years while his father William worked as farm manager.
“I loved living on the research farm and wanted to be an agricultural scientist since I was a young boy,” he said.
“I saw my father work on the farm, met all the scientists, and saw farmers come to our open days. I even got my GCSE English class, most of whom didn’t come from a farming background, to come here for a field visit to connect them closer to farming.
“AFBI’s scientific advances have made a positive difference to farmers and have supported sustainable food systems. It’s incredibly rewarding for me and my colleagues to see the science in practice on farms throughout Northern Ireland.”
Professor Elizabeth Magowan, Director of AFBI’s Sustainable Agri-Food Sciences Division, said she’s hugely proud of the work carried out at Hillsborough.
“Hillsborough has given so many scientific advancements to Northern Ireland as well as the wider world,” she said.
“It’s an honour to work with so many dedicated colleagues who are extremely passionate about driving innovation and advancing our scientific knowledge, all with the goal of making a positive difference for Northern Ireland’s farmers and the environment we live in.”
John McLenaghan, president of the Ulster Farmers’ Union, (UFU) said: “The Ulster Farmers’ Union recognises the important role that AFBI Hillsborough has played over the past 100 years in shaping agriculture in Northern Ireland. From the early adoption of silage to world-leading research in livestock nutrition and emissions, the work carried out at Hillsborough has had a direct and lasting impact on farm businesses across the country.
“As we look to the future, that role is more important than ever. Farmers are facing increasing pressures from policy, climate and market demands, and it is essential that they are supported by trusted, independent science that is both locally relevant and practical at farm level.
“The UFU is keen to continue working closely with AFBI to ensure that research is firmly grounded in the realities of modern farming and delivers solutions that improve efficiency, sustainability and profitability. Just as importantly, farmers must remain at the heart of that process. Their experience and insight are vital in shaping research priorities and ensuring outcomes that work on the ground.
“This centenary is an opportunity not only to reflect on the significant contribution AFBI Hillsborough has made, but also to reaffirm the importance of strong collaboration between science and industry to support a sustainable and competitive future for Northern Ireland agriculture.”
Andrew Muir, Minister of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs, said: “I congratulate AFBI on reaching this important milestone. Over the last 100 years AFBI, and the previous ARINI, has been at the forefront of agricultural research and played a major role in shaping modern agricultural production systems in NI and beyond, helping to establish Northern Ireland as a proud, world-class food producing region. This is testament to the hard work and dedication of the many scientists and researchers who have forged their careers in this institution. Looking ahead, research and innovation are essential to ensure a thriving, resilient and environmentally sustainable future for our industry. High quality science will provide the evidence to inform government policy which makes a difference on the ground and delivers real benefits for the industry. As a Department, we are committed to investing in science-led innovation and I am confident that AFBI will continue to deliver a vital role for government and the industry in the years ahead.”
