New Ruminant Emissions Research Facility planned for AFBI, Hillsborough

Date published: 06 February 2026

A new research facility aimed at optimising productivity while reducing greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions from cattle is being advanced by AFBI in partnership with DAERA.

AFBI Hillsborough has a long-established research programme focused on driving productivity and efficiency including through reducing emissions from dairy, beef and sheep systems. This new ‘Ruminant Emissions Research Facility’ (RERF) will be unique within the UK and Ireland, and one of only a few in Europe.  It will enhance AFBI’s existing research capabilities and further strengthen its leadership in sustainable and resilient dairy and beef production systems.

The overarching purpose of the facility is to help the farming industry achieve both economic and environmental sustainability while delivering on government policy and supply chain requirements.  To achieve this, it will identify and validate effective and practical mitigation options, under commercial like conditions, which both reduce methane and ammonia emissions while optimising productivity in dairy and beef systems.  Mitigations may include slurry additives and management practices, flooring systems, dietary strategies, and genetic approaches. Importantly, the RERF will allow researchers to assess how multiple interventions interact when applied simultaneously.

The research undertaken will support both government and industry by providing independent evidence on the effectiveness of current and emerging technologies and practices. The work will also guide industry strategies designed to balance productivity with environmental targets. Findings will inform the National GHG and ammonia inventories and contribute to evidence-based policy, helping ensure that Northern Ireland’s agricultural mitigation actions are accurately represented. For example, a priority for the RERF has been identified as the determination of an emission factor (EF) for slatted flooring in NI as the national ammonia inventory does not have an EF specific for slatted flooring. The lack of an EF for slatted flooring is perceived by stakeholders as placing NI at a disadvantage and not accurately reflecting NI’s practices.

Excess nutrients from ruminant systems, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, along with ammonia and methane represent losses and inefficiency within livestock systems.  As such, they result in an economic and environment cost where savings could be made.  Furthermore, government policy and supply chain demands both require significant reductions in Green House Gas (GHG) emissions and ammonia. It is well known that Northern Ireland must achieve significant reductions in these emissions to meet regulatory targets, including at least a 20% cut in ammonia emissions by 2030 from current levels and a considerable reduction in agricultural greenhouse gases by 2050.  Within the sectoral assumptions contained in the Climate Change Committee’s 4th carbon budget pathway for Northern Ireland, there is an assumption that agricultural emissions will need to be approximately halved from current levels by 2050 for overall Northern Ireland emissions levels to meet the Net Zero target by 2050.

In response to these challenges, DAERA are funding the development of this new facility at AFBI, Hillsborough which will help identify and validate effective and practical mitigation options, providing evidence to support sustainable production and protect rural livelihoods. As a wide range of new technologies and nutritional approaches emerge globally, the facility will also allow rigorous testing to distinguish scientifically proven solutions from anecdotal claims.

A procurement process for construction of the facility is currently underway.  Subject to a successful outcome, construction is expected to begin later this year, with completion anticipated by early summer 2027. Initial trials are expected to commence in 2028.

The facility will build on AFBI’s work, which has been underpinned by mainly DAERA funding, and which has contributed to UK feeding standards and emissions inventories for more than 40 years.   It will also complement recent and ongoing projects include long term evaluations of methane reducing feed ingredients and strategies, national collaborations on carbon reduction in dairy systems (UK DCN), and the newly launched, Peace Plus funded, CliBeef project, which focuses on low emission beef production across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Across all studies, extensive performance, emissions, and genetic data are being collected, supporting the development of new breeding traits to further improve environmental efficiency.