| Livestock
Soil Association Certification helps to grow the
market for organic meat
Sales of organic red meat have increased following research confirming organic meat contains up to 50% more
Omega-3 than non-organic meat.
he meta-analysis from
Newcastle University was
published in the British Journal
of Nutrition in February 2016
and received significant media
attention. According to Nielsen
data, overall organic red meat sales are now in
growth, with clear improvements in the 12
weeks to June 18 and sales increasing by 4.1%
against the negative trend in non-organic red
meat sales.
Lee Holdstock from Soil Association
Certification said; “Despite changes due to
seasonality and the availability of red meat, we
are beginning to see a clear improvement in
organic sales, especially organic beef which is
even higher than overall growth in organic red
T
meat sales. The Soil Association works to
promote the benefits of organic to consumers,
and we did all we could to spread the important
message of this new scientific research,
including through soci al media and marketing
materials available to all licensees. It is fantastic
to see that sales are now starting to show
sustained growth. ”
Soil Association Certification’s Organic Meat
Forum saw record attendance recently, with
numerous businesses joining the session to
hear upbeat news from retailers and food
service companies, as well as from scientists,
all outlining opportunities for continued growth
in organic meat. This positive outlook should
provide further confidence to producers
considering converting to organic to increase
supply into the UK market.
Holdstock continued; “It is clear that people
are interested in eating ‘better meat’ and
organic certainly fits their demands. Whilst we
advise farmers to investigate the market for
organic before considering conversion, we
have strong reason to believe that organic
livestock production is a viable option. As well
as rising sales for beef and lamb, organic
production from grazing livestock fed on grass
and forage diets, has a positive impact on the
environment and soils – something we all need
to look to protect for future generations.”
To find out more about how the Soil
Association helps organic farmers:
https://www.soilassociation.org/certification/
Welsh Bovine TB status could put future trade deals in jeopardy
The current status of bovine TB in Wales could put future trade deals at risk, the Farmers’ Union of Wales warned at
a Press Conference recently.
ddressing the conference, FUW
President Glyn Roberts said:
“We know that the current rates
of bovine TB may represent a
significant threat in terms of
meat and dairy exports once
we are outside the EU, and there is a real risk
that our current TB status could be used
against us during trade negotiations.
“This means that we have to proactively
address the problem, otherwise we might
jeopardise all UK trade negotiations with
Europe.”
The FUW’s longstanding policy on
proactively managing the wildlife disease
reservoir has been well publicised; what has
now changed is that failing to implement that
policy may lead to the loss of our export
markets post-Brexit - the Union President
A
www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
added.
The FUW is now calling on the Welsh
Government to initiate a proactive badger
management policy at the earliest opportunity
to ensure that Wales does not risk losing
access to foreign markets.
Glyn Roberts warned: “Let me be absolutely
clear here - if we do not sort out the long
running problems with Bovine TB we will be
putting the UK’s Trade policies at complete risk
- we will not be able to trade with the European
Union without fixing - or having a clear
programme to fix - the issue of Bovine TB.
“This is not just about Dairy - it will impact all
sectors. The Welsh Government has it in its
powers now to take proactive action and on
behalf of all of us who wish to export in the
future, I demand that they do take action now.
This is not an issue for individual farmers to
apply for licenses. It needs a centrally planned
and managed solution.
“It is now time for the Welsh Government to
accept that they already have powers and
responsibilities and they cannot now hide
behind EU regulations. It is definitely time for
action.”
As the FUW predicted, throwing millions of
pounds at badger vaccination in and around
north Pembrokeshire has yielded no results
whatsoever.
“The clock is now ticking - how fast, we don’t
know, but it is ticking, and we need to see our
Welsh Government taking the sort of
aggressive proactive approach to the disease
in wildlife they have taken towards cattle.
“If they don’t, then there is a significant risk
that our export negotiations will be at an end
before they start,” stressed the FUW President.
August 2016 | Farming Monthly | 37