Research in apple production is being wound up at the Agri Food and Bioscience Institute’s (AFBI) site in Loughgall, Co Armagh.
The decision follows a review of AFBI’s operations in 2015, known as “shrink to grow”.
The review involved voluntary redundancies of staff, closing AFBI Crossnacreevy and downsizing operations at other sites. The site at Crossnacreevy eventually remained open, following an intervention in January 2017 by former Agriculture Minister Michelle McIlveen.
However, the 2015 review included gradually phasing out apple production research in Loughgall and this process has proceeded as planned.
An AFBI spokesperson told the Irish Farmers Journal that research involving apple storage is under way at present and it is to be the final project related to apple production on the site.
“We will continue to offer the apple sector bespoke research in areas such as plant health and food research,” the spokesperson added.
Grass breeding, as well as mushroom and agroforestry research will continue to be conducted at the Loughgall site. It’s also used by the AFBI sheep flock during the grazing season and beef cattle are housed there in winter.
Read more
AFBI exploring research options
AFBI Crossnacreevy site to remain open
AFBI livestock facilities in line for upgrade
Streamlined AFBI looking to grow
Research in apple production is being wound up at the Agri Food and Bioscience Institute’s (AFBI) site in Loughgall, Co Armagh.
The decision follows a review of AFBI’s operations in 2015, known as “shrink to grow”.
The review involved voluntary redundancies of staff, closing AFBI Crossnacreevy and downsizing operations at other sites. The site at Crossnacreevy eventually remained open, following an intervention in January 2017 by former Agriculture Minister Michelle McIlveen.
However, the 2015 review included gradually phasing out apple production research in Loughgall and this process has proceeded as planned.
An AFBI spokesperson told the Irish Farmers Journal that research involving apple storage is under way at present and it is to be the final project related to apple production on the site.
“We will continue to offer the apple sector bespoke research in areas such as plant health and food research,” the spokesperson added.
Grass breeding, as well as mushroom and agroforestry research will continue to be conducted at the Loughgall site. It’s also used by the AFBI sheep flock during the grazing season and beef cattle are housed there in winter.
Read more
AFBI exploring research options
AFBI Crossnacreevy site to remain open
AFBI livestock facilities in line for upgrade
Streamlined AFBI looking to grow
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