The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has published its long-awaited response to an independent review of the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), retaining the organisation’s current structure while promising tighter governance and closer ministerial oversight. The decision follows a turbulent period for the scientific body, which faced serious biosafety concerns and environmental allegations earlier this year.
Minister Andrew Muir confirmed on 12 June 2026 that the Department would not pursue structural changes to AFBI despite the review’s examination of alternative delivery models. Instead, officials will focus on implementing recommendations to improve accountability, partnership working, and scientific standards at the institute, which plays a critical role in protecting animal and public health across Northern Ireland.
Sixteen-Month Delay Following Interim Crises
The independent review, conducted by consultants Baker Tilly Mooney Moore, was completed and submitted to DAERA in February 2025. Publication was delayed, however, after “issues that have arisen in AFBI in the interim” forced officials to reconsider their response. These matters included a critical Health and Safety Executive inspection that identified weaknesses in laboratory biosafety and governance, as well as allegations regarding animal welfare and a milk pollution incident at the AFBI farm in Hillsborough.
The Department’s formal response accepts recommendations to strengthen governance and accountability, improve partnership working, and ensure AFBI remains equipped to deliver high-quality science. However, Minister Muir explicitly rejected any immediate reorganisation of the body, which was established in 2006 under the Agriculture (Northern Ireland) Order 2004.
“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.”
Andrew Muir, Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Minister Pledges ‘Tangible Improvements’
Speaking on publication day, Minister Muir framed the response as timely support for AFBI’s role in addressing climate change, animal health crises, and environmental protection. The institute provides statutory diagnostic services, emergency disease response, and scientific evidence that underpins DAERA policy.
“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.”
Andrew Muir, Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
“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.”
Andrew Muir, Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
The Minister committed to “clear accountability for delivery” and promised “tangible improvements to performance, governance and public confidence,” building upon commitments he set out in an oral statement to the Assembly on 14 April 2026. That statement addressed urgent biosafety concerns raised by the Health and Safety Executive regarding laboratory handling of animal pathogens and testing procedures for Bluetongue virus and avian influenza.
AFBI Leadership Welcomes Stability
AFBI’s Board and executive team have already commenced work on the recommendations. Professor Grace Mulcahy, Chair of the AFBI Board, welcomed the Department’s commitment to the existing organisational model, noting that the review recognised the institute’s “critical contribution” to Northern Ireland.
“The Board welcomes DAERA’s response to the Review of AFBI. It is particularly important that the Review has recognised the critical contribution AFBI makes to Northern Ireland through the delivery of independent science, research, surveillance and diagnostic services, employing a One Health approach across the various areas of its remit. We further welcome Minister Muir’s statement confirming DAERA’s commitment to continuing to work closely with AFBI, further strengthening AFBI’s role as primary provider of research and scientific services for the Department.”
Professor Grace Mulcahy, Chair, AFBI Board
Chief Executive Stanley McDowell emphasised the opportunity to strengthen working relationships with DAERA while reviewing how scientific services are commissioned.
“AFBI plays a vital role in safeguarding animal and plant health, supporting environmental resilience and underpinning the competitiveness of our agri‑food industry. The actions to address the recommendations from the Review provide an opportunity to strengthen partnership working between the Department and AFBI, to review current commissioning arrangements and to maximise the value and impact of AFBI’s scientific work.”
Stanley McDowell, Chief Executive, AFBI
Unanswered Questions and Missing Details
While the response promises closer oversight, several significant gaps remain in the public disclosure:
- The specific recommendations being implemented are not detailed in the announcement, beyond general commitments to governance improvements
- No timeline has been provided for when the action plan will be completed or when progress reports will be made public
- The cost implications of the review’s implementation remain undisclosed
- The Minister has not defined what “tangible improvements” in public confidence will look like or how they will be measured
- The specific triggers that might prompt a future reconsideration of structural change have not been identified
The full independent review report runs to 160 pages and contains detailed findings about AFBI’s form, function, and capacity. The Department’s response indicates that while the institute’s functions remain necessary, its delivery model required examination against the backdrop of recent biosafety lapses and environmental incidents.
Broader Context: Scrutiny and Accountability
The publication comes at a moment of heightened scrutiny for DAERA’s scientific agencies. The April 2026 Health and Safety Executive report found “weaknesses in administrative and governance arrangements,” “deficiencies in procedures and controls required to ensure effective biocontainment,” and “gaps in organisational capability to consistently demonstrate compliance with required biosafety standards.” The Minister confirmed at the time that testing procedures for Bluetongue virus were deemed unsafe, requiring immediate triage protocols to prevent contaminated material entering AFBI facilities.
Additionally, a “low severity” milk spillage at the Hillsborough research farm in early April 2026 caused minor visual pollution to Hillsborough Lake, though officials reported no impact on fish populations.
What to Watch For
Stakeholders will now monitor whether the promised governance improvements can address the systemic weaknesses identified by independent inspectors without altering AFBI’s fundamental structure. The Minister’s decision to retain the current model while leaving the door open to future structural change suggests a probationary period for the institute’s leadership.
Key questions remain:
- Will governance reforms alone satisfy the biosafety requirements identified by the Health and Safety Executive, or will resource constraints hinder implementation?
- How will the Department quantify “public confidence” in AFBI, and what metrics will determine success or failure of the action plan?
- Given the Minister has not ruled out future structural changes, what specific failures or successes would trigger a fundamental reorganisation of the institute?
- How will AFBI balance its commercial research activities with its statutory public health duties while undergoing these reforms?
- Can the “One Health” approach be maintained effectively across all AFBI operations given recent lapses in both laboratory and farm environments?
The Department has committed to “at least” quarterly reporting on progress, suggesting a sustained period of intensive oversight as AFBI attempts to rebuild trust while continuing its essential diagnostic and surveillance work.