Launching the report, Chairman Professor Gerry Boyle reaffirmed AgriSearch’s role as a “locally rooted, independent body established by farmers for farmers”, noting its sustained impact on competitiveness, profitability and long‑term sustainability across the dairy, beef and sheep sectors.
A Critical Moment for Farmer‑Led Research
The Annual Report makes clear that AgriSearch is operating against a backdrop of escalating challenges and increasing expectations. Despite managing levy funds “responsibly and transparently” and leveraging partnerships to maximise impact, Professor Boyle emphasised that levy income has not kept pace with the needs of a modern, science‑driven farming industry.
“Levy income has remained unchanged since 1997, apart from a small increase for beef in 2015. Over nearly three decades, inflation has significantly eroded the real value of this income, making it increasingly difficult to commission meaningful research at the scale and depth required.”
With rising operational and research delivery costs, AgriSearch warns that maintaining the high‑quality research programmes farmers rely on will require a collective industry conversation on strengthening levy collection and reviewing levy rates.
A Year of Strategic Progress
Despite financial pressures, 2024/25 saw a series of major achievements:
- Launch of a new Five‑Year Strategic Plan, reinforcing AgriSearch's commitment to connecting cutting‑edge research with on‑farm practice.
- Celebration of the 25th Anniversary of GrassCheck, a flagship programme that has transformed grassland management and continues to guide decisions across NI farms.
- Strong partnership wins, including participation in the AFBI led UK Dairy Carbon Network and the PEACEPLUS CliBeef project (in partnership with AFBI, Teagasc and Queen’s University), positioning Northern Ireland at the forefront of climate‑smart livestock innovation.
- Expansion of long‑term research capacity, including two new PhD programmes focusing on carbon modelling and AI‑driven renewable energy optimisation.
- Delivery of farm‑level research, including ZeroNsile, mycotoxin investigations, and a new sheep genotyping initiative.
The organisation also continued to expand its knowledge‑exchange reach through farm walks, workshops, events and growing digital engagement.
Future‑Proofing Northern Ireland Agriculture
AgriSearch states that the need for accurate, independent scientific evidence has never been greater, particularly as farmers navigate new environmental policies, higher input costs and rapidly evolving consumer and regulatory expectations. The report underscores AgriSearch’s unique capacity to deliver this evidence because it is guided by farmers themselves and trusted across government, research organisations and the wider agri‑food industry.
Prof. Boyle emphasised that ensuring AgriSearch remains “fit for purpose and capable of delivering the research and innovation the livestock sector needs” will depend on collective action:
“We will engage closely with farmers and processors to explore opportunities to strengthen levy collection and review levy rates. This is essential to future‑proofing both AgriSearch and the wider industry.”
A Call to the Sector
The report’s overarching message is clear: farmer‑led research delivers high‑value, real‑world impact, but it requires sustainable investment. AgriSearch is urging farmers, processors and industry partners to work together to safeguard the research infrastructure that underpins Northern Ireland’s agricultural resilience.
A copy of the 2025 annual report can be found here