Departmental Response to the Review of the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute
Date published:
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) today published its Departmental Response to the independent Review of the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI).
In considering the review which was carried out by independent consultants, and which was received by the Department in February 2025, the Department has worked with both the AFBI Board and the AFBI executive team to consider the report’s findings and recommendations.
The response has also been considered in light of issues that have arisen in AFBI in the interim which delayed publication of the report and the Department’s response to it. These have previously been outlined in the Minister’s recent oral statement to the Assembly on 14 April 2026.
DAERA Minister Andrew Muir confirmed today that the Department is committed to continuing to work closely with AFBI - both its Board and Executive team - to support and further strengthen its role as the primary provider of research and scientific services for the Department.
The Minister made this commitment following the publication of the response to the review which considered AFBI’s effectiveness, governance and delivery and which identified a number of recommendations, for both the Department and AFBI to consider.
Minister Muir said: “The publication of the Departmental Response to the AFBI review is very timely as we work together to deliver a thriving, resilient and environmentally sustainable future for agri-food, protect animal and plant health, tackle climate change and improve water and air quality - all of which contribute towards supporting the One Health approach.
“The very nature of this policy landscape means AFBI is a key partner in this work with robust data, science and evidence critical, built upon high standards of professionalism, research integrity, data management, and technical proficiency.
“My Department and AFBI are working collaboratively to deliver the actions arising from the review, building upon the commitments I already set out on 14 April 2026.
“Continued cooperation will continue to ensure progress is closely monitored with clear accountability for delivery to ensure we implement the review action plan with tangible improvements to performance, governance and public confidence in the Institute’s important work.”
While accepting the recommendations on governance and accountability, improving partnership working and ensuring AFBI is best placed to deliver high quality science, research and evidence in support of policy development and science delivery, Minister Muir confirmed he had decided against changing existing structures but had also not ruled out revisiting these issues in the future.
“Having considered options for the delivery of AFBI functions and services in the review and the disruption associated with wholesale structural change, I have decided not to progress this recommendation at this time. Work will instead focus on implementing the recommendations from the review,” he said.
The Departmental Response to the AFBI Review report is available on the DAERA website at the following link. Download the document here.
Notes to editors:
- AFBI is an executive non-departmental public body of DAERA set up under the Agriculture (NI) Order 2004. Its functions are set out in that Order and include undertaking scientific work (research and development, testing, advice and information on scientific matters and dissemination of the results of scientific research) in the fields of agriculture, animal health and welfare, food, fisheries, forestry, the natural environment and rural development and enterprise.
- A copy of the independent Review of AFBI is available at the following link. Download the document here.
- Follow DAERA on X formerly called Twitter and Facebook.
- All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office: pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk or telephone: 028 9016 3460.
- The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours’ service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.