A construction contract has been awarded for a new Ruminant Emissions Research Facility (RERF) at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) in Hillsborough.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is investing £8 million in the project, which will provide infrastructure to measure greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions from cattle under controlled conditions.

Data generated by the facility is expected to support the development of mitigation strategies and feed into national inventories, helping Northern Ireland meet its climate targets.

Construction work is scheduled to commence this month, marking a significant milestone for the project.

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir said the facility will enable scientists to create innovative, low-carbon farming methods that cut ammonia emissions while protecting the productivity and economic resilience of the agri-food sector. He added that the investment underlines the department’s commitment to AFBI’s research and its role in informing policy and driving sector-wide innovation.

Prof Elizabeth Magowan, Director of AFBI Sustainable Agri-Food Sciences, described the facility as a strategically important addition to the institute’s infrastructure. She noted that it will provide a unique platform bridging detailed laboratory work and commercial farm systems, positioning AFBI to deliver world-class science for sustainable agriculture.