ABRI Update and Statement to Beef Central

ABOUT ABRI

ABRI is at the forefront of livestock breeding technology, delivering leading-edge, data-driven solutions that enhance the productivity, sustainability and profitability of the global agricultural industry.

ABRI is a leading provider of innovative AgTech products, software services and technology solutions, including the BREEDPLAN Genetic Evaluation, our breed registry and breed secretariat services, testing services for the dairy industry and herd management systems.

Together, these offerings provide ABRI with a diverse and resilient customer and revenue base.

ABRI’s objective is focused on improving the rate of genetic gain, helping producers meet value chain demands in current and future markets.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of BREEDPLAN®, the most extensively utilised genetic evaluation offering globally, with more than 80 breed societies, breeder groups and pastoral companies relying on BREEDPLAN® analyses worldwide.

ABRI has a clear strategic vision to continue to play a vital, long-term role in improving the rate of genetic gain and responding to industry needs that enhance the productivity and profitability of producers. Our recent work with customers on GenSELECT is one such example of addressing industry needs.

Further information on our product suite is available from our website.

ABRI’s STRATEGIC TRANSFORMATION

In August 2024, as ABRI stakeholders are aware, the ABRI Board commenced a major strategic transformation program to position ABRI as a commercially focused company more closely aligned with our customers and able to deliver on stakeholder expectations.

By reconnecting ABRI’s people to purpose and customers, and clearing barriers to collaboration, ABRI is now better aligned, more accountable and equipped to serve a growing customer base.

Significant upgrades to ABRI’s information systems have strengthened our core infrastructure and positioned the organisation for future growth at commercial scale.

Through improved communication and service delivery, customer satisfaction for ABRI’s services has increased significantly.

The transformation has included a review of our organisational structure, skills and roles to ensure our people are set up to deliver on our strategic ambitions. This has resulted in some staff changes, re-deployments and new appointments to strengthen capability.

All change programs require a constant commitment to uplift and improvement, our latest changes are part of that journey.

Christian Duff, Chief of Operations and Acting Managing Director has recently resigned after consideration of the level of commitment the role requires, particularly at this point in our transformation.

NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR

ABRI is in the final stages of recruiting a new managing director. This externally managed process attracted a range of high calibre candidates from both Australia and internationally which speaks to the esteem in which ABRI is held.

ABRI’s FINANCIAL POSITION

As a controlled entity of the University of New England (UNE), ABRI’s financial statements are published each year as part of the University’s annual report.

In the 2024 report it was disclosed that UNE had made a $5m loan facility available to ABRI in support of its new strategic plan.

ABRI is a commercial organisation and our revenue is generated by the services and value it delivers to industry stakeholders. BREEDPLAN is ABRI’s biggest revenue line.

Part of the business transformation that commenced in 2024 was to right size the organisation’s cost base, and continue to grow revenue, to achieve long term financial sustainability.

The organisation continues to progress this goal.

ABRI has a firm handle on its financial position and a series of changes have been made over the past 14 months to shore up our long-term financial sustainability.

SOFTWARE ISSUES IMPACTED BREEDPLAN

As ABRI customers will be aware, there was a temporary outage with the software that delivers BREEDPLAN in 2024. ABRI took this as an opportunity to invest in the underlying IT architecture and bring on more personnel resources to improve the scalability, functionality and reliability of this software.