AFBI AgriFood Biosciences Institute

Name

AFBI AgriFood Biosciences Institute

Legal name

Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute

Website

https://afbini.gov.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

AFBI is a Northern Ireland government arms-length body under DAERA delivering agri-food, animal health, plant, fisheries, and environmental R&D plus accredited diagnostic and analytical services to government, the agri-food industry, and international partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural and Bioscience Research Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Animal Production (11521), Support Activities for Animal Production (1152)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Farm Technology Enablement & Data Integration Advisory (FMIS/ERP, IoT, Decision Support) (AFACAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Carbon, Sustainability & Farm Certification Support (Agro-Environmental Advisory) (AFACABAL)

Keywords

• Agri-food research
• Animal disease diagnostics
• Food safety analysis
• Grass breeding science
• Fisheries aquatic research

Headquarters

HQ city

Belfast

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Government Research Funding: AFBI is an arms-length body of DAERA (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs) delivering research and development, diagnostic and analytical testing, emergency response capability and expert scientific advice primarily funded through government departmental budgets.
2. Commercial Diagnostic and Analytical Services: AFBI provides innovative research and development, analytical and diagnostic services and specialist advice on the chemistry and microbiology of food for the agri-food industry and international customers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AFBI delivers high-technology research and development, statutory and surveillance science, accredited analytical and diagnostic testing, emergency response capability, and expert scientific advice across seven areas of expertise (Animal Health and Welfare, Sustainable Livestock, Grassland and Plant Science, Environmental Protection, Food Quality and Safety, Fisheries and Aquatic Ecosystems, and Economics). Its commercial offerings include diagnostic surveillance laboratory services, the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme, the GrassCheck growth monitoring programme, Crossnacreevy plant variety trials, food safety chemistry/microbiology analysis and grass breeding research.

Product overview

AFBI (Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute) is a Northern Ireland government research institute that operates as a science service organization rather than a traditional product company. It delivers research and development, diagnostic and analytical testing, emergency response capability, and expert scientific advice across seven key areas: Animal Health and Welfare, Sustainable Livestock, Grassland and Plant Science, Environmental Protection, Food Quality and Safety, Fisheries and Aquatic Ecosystems, and Economics. Its core service offerings include diagnostic surveillance laboratory services for farm animals, the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme, the GrassCheck Programme for grass growth monitoring, Crossnacreevy Plant Testing Station for variety trials, food quality and safety analytical services, and environmental protection research. AFBI also provides specialized monitoring services including aphid monitoring data and animal disease surveillance reports. The institute works with government departments (primarily DAERA), the agri-food industry, and international customers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Crossnacreevy: AFBI's plant testing station and crop research facility in Co. Down
• Hillsborough

Quantifiable outcome

• Piglet survival research demonstrates late-born piglets (11th onwards) show 77% survival rate compared to 85% for middle-born piglets; farmers could save approximately one extra piglet per sow per year, worth around £100 (€115) in additional revenue.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2026SEUPB manages the PEACEPLUS programme which contributed €25 million to three AFBI-led and AFBI-partnered marine climate research projects (ACCLIMATISE €7.1M led by AFBI, MOSAIC €8M, CMAP €9.6M). This represents AFBI's largest current research partnership in terms of funding value and cross-border collaboration scope.
• Marine Institute (Foras na Mara)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner in ACCLIMATISE project bringing together leading scientific and environmental organisations across the island of Ireland and Scotland for marine climate monitoring and ecosystem-based management.
• RSPBmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025ACCLIMATISE project partner contributing ornithological expertise to marine ecosystem monitoring and biodiversity assessment across jurisdictions.
• British Trust for OrnithologymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025ACCLIMATISE project partner providing bird monitoring data and citizen science capabilities for marine environmental assessment.
• Irish Whale and Dolphin GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025ACCLIMATISE project partner contributing cetacean monitoring expertise for marine biodiversity tracking.
• Queen's University BelfastmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025ACCLIMATISE project partner providing academic research capabilities and hosting joint events with AFBI.
• Scottish Association for Marine SciencemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025ACCLIMATISE project partner contributing Scottish marine science expertise and cross-border research coordination.
• Loughs AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025MOSAIC project lead (€8M) working with AFBI on cross-border marine observation network linking oceanography and biodiversity. Loughs Agency CEO Sharon McMahon highlighted the partnership at project launch.
• Ulster UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025CMAP project lead (€9.6M) partnered with AFBI for coastal monitoring and adaptation research spanning 15 coastal sites in Counties Sligo, Donegal, Londonderry, Antrim, Down and Louth.
• BarenbrugcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFBI delivers an internationally recognised programme in grass breeding in conjunction with commercial partner Barenbrug, focusing on improving grassland productivity and nutritive value.
• Cefas (England)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong customer link in fisheries and aquatic ecosystems research, collaborating on marine ecosystem health and sustainable management of freshwater and marine resources.
• Marine Directorate of the Scottish GovernmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong customer and research partner in fisheries and aquatic ecosystems, working on marine science coordination at UK level.
• Marine Institute (Ireland)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong customer link in fisheries and aquatic ecosystems research, supporting cross-border marine science collaboration.
• Scottish Association for Marine SciencemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong customer link in fisheries and aquatic ecosystems, supporting marine ecosystem health research and monitoring.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Marine Institute (Ireland / Foras na Mara): Ireland's national marine research agency; AFBI's named partner in PEACEPLUS ACCLIMATISE project and listed as a key fisheries customer. Both are state bodies delivering marine science, fisheries stock assessment, and oceanographic research with similar funding and statutory profiles.
• Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS): Marine science research and education organisation in Scotland; AFBI lists SAMS as a strong customer and PEACEPLUS ACCLIMATISE project partner. Comparable scope on fisheries, oceanography, and marine ecosystem health.
• SRUC (Scotland's Rural College): SRUC delivers applied agricultural and veterinary research, education, and consulting across Scotland — closely matching AFBI's mixed livestock, crop, and rural-economy remit. Comparable as UK arms-length/government-linked agri-food research and education bodies.
• Rothamsted Research: Long-established UK agricultural research institute with strong crop science and applied agronomy capabilities. Highly comparable to AFBI's grassland/plant science work including the Barenbrug partnership on grass breeding.
• Teagasc: Ireland's Agriculture and Food Development Authority providing agricultural research, advisory, and training services. Teagasc is the closest geographic peer to AFBI, delivering similar crop variety testing, livestock research, and farmer advisory across the Republic of Ireland.
• Agroscope: Swiss federal agricultural research institute conducting crop, livestock, and food research. Closely mirrors AFBI's structure as a government-linked multi-disciplinary agricultural research body serving national policy and commercial clients.
• Cefas (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science): UK government agency delivering applied marine and fisheries science; AFBI lists Cefas as a strong customer and research partner in fisheries and aquatic ecosystems. Both operate research vessels and deliver statutory marine monitoring under government arms-length arrangements.
• The James Hutton Institute: Scottish government-funded crop, soil, land-use, and environmental science institute. Direct comparable on the plant science, soil health, and environmental protection work that comprises a major share of AFBI's research portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• INRAE (Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement): France's national research institute for agriculture, food, and environment — substantially larger than AFBI but covering the same disciplines (animal science, plant science, food safety, environmental research). Useful benchmark for scale and capability breadth.

Emerging players

• Fera Science Ltd: Privatised UK plant and animal health science laboratory (formerly part of DEFRA). Competes with AFBI on food safety, plant pest, and animal disease diagnostics but as a private commercial entity with a different operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AFBI_NI
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqv34qfnqT4zf4Rb1QduuTg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/agri-food-and-biosciences-institute
• Instagraminstagram.com/afbi_ni/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AFBI AgriFood Biosciences Institute