Transparency could open up new pig and poultry markets
Building more transparency in the supply chain will help UK pig and poultry producers respond to the benefits and challenges created by Brexit, according to experts in the sector.
Despite uncertainties around trade and future farm policy, farmers should be prepared to start thinking now about how they can drive productivity and efficiencies.
And focusing on supply chain transparency, as well as the UK’S excellent record for animal welfare, should help producers take advantage of new market opportunities in future, industry leaders said.
Speaking at the Pig and Poultry Fair in Stone leigh in Warwickshire, Mark Williams, chief executive of the British Egg Industry Council, said t he UK egg sector had seen significant growth in recent years, with layer bird numbers increasing to 40 million from 33 million in 2012.
However, with imports accounting for 14 per cent of the eggs consumed in the UK, there was still potential for further growth–provided that expansion was responsible and continued to focus on high-welfare production systems.
“With Brexit we have a real opportunity to replace imports with UK- produced eggs.
“But we are not saying go and expand willy- nilly because we don’t want to go oversupply. We need to respond in a responsible way,” warned Williams.
Andrew Saunders of Tulip Foods said the high welfare story of UK pigmeat would also help pig producers grasp any opportunities created by Brexit.
“We need to focus on delivering on high welfare standards. There are growing markets who share our interest in high welfare standards, and I encourage you to think about where we can do more.”
Saunders said that pro - vided UK producers could remain competitive, there were“massive opportunities” to sell more British pigmeat around the world.