Warning of anti-meat publicity

The EU’s chief negotiator for trade talks with the UK, Michel Barnier, is a mild-mannered French politician with a steely background in national and European politics. His measured approach creates an image of his dealings with Boris Johnson as that of a father dealing with a recalcitrant child. He has not risen to the bait thrown by Johnson, making clear that while a deal is important, the UK’s demands cannot be met.

This includes an insistence that it cannot have a Canadian-style trade deal, without giving up many of the single market advantages. Barnier has stressed there would be “lots of consequences” for the UK if it chooses to walk away from negotiations.

With coronavirus changing the global map, the suggestion by a Treasury adviser in London that the UK could import all the food it needs and do without a farming industry looks even more ridiculous.

But this is a debate postponed rather than ended, as the importance of securing trade deals beyond the EU moves up the government agenda.

The European Commission says the beef market is improving, but these positive comments from Meat Market Observatory officials come with a warning – attacks on meat-eating and the development of plant-based products using meat terms will drive down consumption and encourage a negative perception of meat.

Prices have improved thanks to better demand and production increases being kept in check – though they are still not back to 2018 levels.

Much of the market improvement is being driven by China, which has been hit badly by African Swine Fever. Since this was not planned, production has not risen, helping to improve prices in Europe. However the report warns of issues going forward, including the impact of coronavirus in China, Brexit and continuing anti-meat publicity.

Agriculture here is not unique in facing pressure to be greener. Farmers in the EU-27 seem to be under even more pressure as the European Commission battles to get its Farm to Fork strategy implemented as part of plans to be carbon-zero by 2050.

This is putting pressure on the industry to demonstrate its farming practices are sustainable. This will become a component of the Common Agricultural Policy, but the European Commission is saying farmers cannot achieve the goals without more support from retailers and food processors.

It says they are dragging their feet in implementing changes to make food more healthy and to tackle obesity, which Brussels believes will drive more sustainable farming methods.

Picture: AP. The EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier.