The NI farmer-funded research body, AgriSearch has marked 20 years in operation with an event held in Belfast this week. Since its formation in 1987, AgriSearch has committed £7.7m of funds obtained from farmer levies, towards 145 projects in the dairy, beef and sheep sectors. The work has been mainly conducted at AFBI Hillsborough and on local farms, and generally co-funded by government (DAERA).

According to current AgriSearch chair, Michael Bell, the research has been worth over £170m to NI’s ruminant livestock sector. That figure is based on a 5% to 10% uptake among farmers of the research findings. “By any standards this is excellent value for money,” said Bell.

To mark the 20-year anniversary, AgriSearch has produced a publication, featuring the views of a number of industry leaders and commentators on what has been achieved, and how farmers can rise to the challenge of changing times. The publication includes contributions from Justin McCarthy and Phelim O’Neill from the Irish Farmers Journal.

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“We hope it will stimulate debate and feedback on how AgriSearch can best meet the needs of its farmer levy payers over the next 20 years,” concluded Bell.