Calls for beef sector to address public concerns around sustainability
Speaking to Meat Management on a recent group visit to its Bromstead research farm, ABP UK’s CEO, Bob Carnell, voiced his concerns that more needs to be done to address the public’s anxieties around beef and its production.
“I think getting the tremendously positive story around sustainable beef production across to the consumer has never been more important for the entire industry.”
Carnell’s comment follows on from Morrisons recent decision to incentivise sustainable beef production by paying an additional 10p/kg for dairy beef finished younger than 18-months and on a sustainable diet.
Sophie Throup, head of agriculture at Morrisons, said: “We aim to significantly reduce carbon emissions in meat through improvements to what our animals eat and we’ll offset the remainder with initiatives such as sensitive tree planting and soil sequestration.
“But it’s also important to recognise that sheep and cattle largely graze on grass from their home farm, that their manures improve the soil health and biodiversity of the landscape, and that they are a nutrient rich food. All of which can also significantly improve sustainability.”
ABP has also invested considerably in its sustainable credentials, spending in excess of £40 million at its Ellesmere facility alone since 2015 and establishing that superior genetics are a key to reducing beef’s environmental impact.
Carnell was also clear that the way to get the message across simply and effectively was a challenge: “How best to do that I’m not sure – who, does it and who pays for it are all big questions?
“However,” he was adamant that: “I don’t see doing nothing as an option. We have ideas around this and of course we cannot do it on our own – it needs everyone to pull together.”
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