DAERA AFBI Commercialisation of AFBI-bred forage grass varieties

Descriptions

The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) is Northern Ireland's largest science and technology organisation and an internationally renowned multidisciplinary scientific organisation, based at seven locations across Northern Ireland. AFBI is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) established under the Agriculture (Northern Ireland) Order, 2004. The Institute undertakes an assigned work programme on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) that comprises statutory, analytical, and diagnostic/surveillance testing, together with research & development (R&D) and the provision of specialist advice in the fields of agriculture, animal health and welfare, plant science, food safety and innovation, marine and fisheries, the natural environment and Agri-food and rural economics.The AFBI grass breeding programme, based in Loughgall, Northern Ireland, produces locally-adapted ryegrass varieties for a range of forage grass markets, but primarily for the UK/ROI markets. The AFBI forage grass breeding programme is split into two programmes: the strategic programme and the commercialisation programme. The early stage strategic programme is funded by DAERA, and produces germplasm for incorporation into new synthetics. The commercialisation programme tests near-market stage synthetics prior to national list testing and subsequent commercialisation.AFBI requires a commercialisation partner in order for AFBI-bred varieties to be tested for market performance prior to national/recommended list testing, and ultimately for seed from AFBI-bred varieties to reach target markets: NI is the priority market. In compliance with the Concession Contracts Regulations 2016, AFBI therefore intends to run a tender exercise for commercialisation rights to all future AFBI-bred varieties for the purposes of testing, production and marketing of these varieties. AFBI will retain ownership of all IP arising from the future forage grass breeding programme. The contract arising from this tender will provide an exclusive global licence to produce, market and sell all AFBI-bred forage grass synthetics not yet sown by the current commercial partner as Pre-basic seed arising from the AFBI forage grass breeding programme from contract initiation. The Commercialisation Rights will commence on any variety when seed is sown to produce a crop of Pre-basic seed. Commercial rights to synthetics not selected by the partner shall revert to AFBI.