MSW Mission Statement
Meat South West is a strategic body to facilitate industry and government on the priorities and needs of a profitable and productive south west meat and livestock sector.
2011 - Challenges and Opportunities
2011 looks like being a year of interesting challenges and opportunities. The foresight report has highlighted the need for food producers to meet rising demand in the years to come as global population expands. The need to “produce more and impact less” has coined the current buzz phrase “sustainable intensification”.
EBLEX are investigating and pursuing export routes for meat producers with an emphasis on cuts rather than carcases. A greater utilisation of offal is also being sought. The meat industry has seen both costs and returns increase recently leaving all sectors in the supply chain facing new dilemmas and choices.
Specifically in the south west, the “West Country” beef and lamb Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) application is steadily progressing. The application has now entered a final consultation period. Meat South West urges all stakeholders in the West Country to participate in the consultation process to gain a positive outcome. The West Country contains fantastic natural grassland that uniquely produces some of the best tasting and most sustainably produced beef and lamb in the world. Successfully achieving PGI status could well provide beef and lamb in the West Country with a springboard to promote this and increase sales both at home and abroad.
Please participate in the PGI consultation by emailing Irene.Bocchetta@adas.co.uk before 7th September 2011.