Established in July 1970, ABRI traces its roots to the visionary leadership of its late founder, Dr. Arthur Rickards OAM, and his colleagues at the University of New England (UNE). Initially conceived as a technology transfer unit within UNE, ABRI’s inception marked a bold leap forward in advancing agricultural innovation.

Dr. Rickards vision for ABRI was to establish a national agribusiness service to facilitate a connection between the technological advancements being developed by UNE and the technology being used within the agricultural and rural industries. Over five decades later, ABRI stands as a global leader in agricultural software solutions, thanks to Dr Rickards ambitious mission.

A pivotal moment came in 1985 with the development of BREEDPLAN, an advanced genetic evaluation system for beef cattle, in collaboration with UNE’s Animal Genetics Breeding Unit (AGBU).

Supported by Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), BREEDPLAN has evolved into the cornerstone of genetic evaluation, serving 40 beef cattle breeds and over 14 million animals across 14 countries. Additionally, ABRI offers a diverse range of software solutions for other livestock sectors, including dairy cattle, sheep, goats, and horses.

Under the guidance of current Managing Director Dr David Christie, ABRI remains committed to advancing its legacy of knowledge and expertise through continued innovation. Dr Christie’s vision emphasises leveraging new technological advancements to benefit ABRI’s clients and the broader livestock industries.