Northern Ireland Beef and Lamb off to Paris

UK - The Northern Ireland red meat industry will be exhibiting once again at this years’ SIAL International Food show in Paris. According to a Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) bulletin, from 19 to 23 October the LMC along with four meat processors – Linden Foods, ABP, the Foyle Food Group and Dunbia will be negotiating with decision makers from around the world to increase awareness and develop export markets for the Northern Ireland red meat industry.
calendar icon 20 October 2008
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30,000 visitors are expected at the meat section of the exhibition with on average 212 visitors per exhibitor.

David Rutledge LMC Chief Executive comments, “We have over the last few years had great success at shows like SIAL as we have been able to reach an extensive international audience and secure commercial contracts. This year should prove to be just as successful as we showcase our industry. With our high standards of traceability and assurance, our production and processing skills and our reputation for producing a high quality and competitive product, Northern Ireland is well equipped to meet the needs of the international marketplace”.

LMC will also host six farmers from Northern Ireland to the show for two days enabling them to see at first hand the extent of international competition and how the Northern Ireland industry sells its credentials to an international audience.

International trade update

Uruguay’s impact on the international beef market is limited by its size and its relatively small cattle herd. It is impossible for it to challenge Brazil, which is currently unable and unwilling to sell beef into the EU, or Argentina, which is struggling under a government directive which insists beef is delivered almost exclusively onto the home market at an artificially low price.

Russia imports beef to meet demand

Russia currently has to import around one million tonnes a year to meet demand which continues to be driven by income growth and increased individual consumption. Average wages in Russia have quadrupled over the last five years and annual meat consumption has increased from 42 kg per head in 1999 to 59kg in 2007.

It is unlikely that Russia could increase beef production itself following a fall in the cattle herd from 57 million head in 1990 to only 22 million head at present.

McDonalds predict increase in demand

A senior director of McDonalds has recently predicted that there will be a 60 per cent increase in world beef consumption by 2040. McDonalds argue that the challenge to the beef sector is increasing production to match this. Significant production increases are needed globally if sales are to keep pace with demand.

EU Commissioner emphasises quality

EU Farm Commissioner, Marianne Fischer-Boel, told the World Meat Congress in Cape Town that Europe's public beef stocks have been at zero since the spring of 2004 so imports have consequently increased. However, she told the Congress that imports of beef to the EU must meet EU standards and that EU officials were currently rigorously enforcing these standards.

Further Reading

- You can view the full report by clicking here.

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