Beef stakeholders to launch UK Cattle Sustainability Platform
The UK Cattle Sustainability Platform (UKCSP) has been established as a multi-stakeholder arrangement to facilitate collaboration and build scale with many diverse initiatives on sustainability across the UK beef industry.
This platform brings together farmer representatives, processors, retailers and support agencies working towards a set of common goals and the UKCSP has already been formally recognised by the European Roundtable for Beef Sustainability (ERBS).
The launch of the UKCSP comes after two years of comprehensive multi-stakeholder consultation, which recognised the pressing need to collaborate, communicate and support sustainable farming practices that will benefit farmers, industry, consumers and the environment.
“This is a significant advance which demonstrates the good work already being done, the commitment to improve and a collective move in support of UK beef producers.”
Signatories of the UKCSP include the British Meat Processors Association, ABP UK, Dawn Meats and the Livestock & Meat Commission Northern Ireland. It has also been backed by major retailers in the UK, including Tesco, Morrisons, Aldi, Sainsbury’s and the Co-Op.
The chair of the UKCSP, Sarah Haire, said: “I’m delighted that all major stakeholders from the UK beef industry have come together to collaborate on their considerable efforts to showcase what we are doing as an industry to promote beef sustainability throughout the supply chain with farmers and customers alike.
“This is a significant advance which demonstrates the good work already being done, the commitment to improve and a collective move in support of UK beef producers.”
The UKCSP has aligned with the goals and objectives of the ERBS and will continue to develop workstreams and measure its progress against four target areas including; the environment, animal medicines, animal health and welfare, and farm management.
Commenting on the Platform, John Royle, chief livestock advisor at the NFU, said: “The NFU are pleased to be part of the UKCSP and welcome the collaborative approach to supporting and promoting the sustainability of UK beef production.”
Photograph: The chair of the UKCSP, Sarah Haire.
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