AFBI Commercialisation of AFBI bred grass varieties

Descriptions

PRE-MARKET ENGAGEMENT EXERCISE - the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), via its non-departmental public body, the Agri-food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) in Northern Ireland, is preparing a procurement process for the commercialization rights to forage grass varieties bred at the AFBI site in Loughgall. AFBI wishes to assess the potential for implementation of a new funding model for the AFBI grass breeding programme in which funding is provided by the commercial partner for the entire grass breeding pipeline. Currently funding is provided by a commercial partner for near-market testing only. Funding for the entire pipeline would include all activities directly involved in variety production and development, but would not include associated research projects, which AFBI would seek to be funded by other sources.. Before launching a procurement procedure, AFBI and Construction and Procurement Delivery (CPD) are conducting market consultations to raise awareness of a possible forthcoming procurement opportunity, and to engage with potential providers around the feasibility of this new funding model ahead of a possible release for a subsequent tender.