Buyers from across the world have come to the UK to take part in a four-day pasture-to-plate experience organised by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) to promote British red meat exports.
The four-day event from 2nd to 5th June saw 28 buyers from the Americas, Africa, Asia and the Middle East take part in the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board’s (AHDB) biggest ever inward mission for the red meat sector, which included visits to farms and processors in the West Country to learn more about production of world-class British beef, lamb and pork.
The mission culminated with a ‘meet the buyer’ event at Butchers’ Hall in London attended by exporters and UK businesses. This included a panel session, where guests heard from AHDB market analysts and its international trade development team about quality UK red meat produce, market access and the potential for future trade arrangements. The day concluded with a gala dinner.
Introducing the panel discussion, Jonathan Eckley emphasised the importance of opening access to export markets, stating that the UK is very well placed to deliver safe, high-quality food products internationally.
Commenting on the recent reclassification of the UK’s Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) risk status to negligible by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), AHDB Head of market access Ouafa Doxon added: ”This highlights the strength of our food safety and animal health system, as well as supporting our export activities.”
Figures from AHDB show that 2024 was a record year for exports. UK red meat exports were worth £1.77 billion and the value of beef, lamb and pig meat exports in 2024 as a whole increased 3.3% on year earlier levels. Exports are up by £600 million versus 10 years ago, something that can in part be attributed to the success of red meat offal shipments, which make up one-third of the export volume of British red meat and offal.
Giving a platform to British producers
At the end of the panel discussion, British manufacturers and producers met for one-to-one sessions with the assembled buyers.
Eckley commented: “Connecting with people is essential to helping ensure UK red meat exports thrive and we were delighted to welcome key industry figures from a wide portfolio of markets to take part in our inward mission.
“It provided the ideal platform for buyers from across the world to gain further insight at source into how we produce our world-class red meat. The mission provided the full pasture-to-plate experience with delegates joining us at the gala dinner to taste this quality produce for themselves.”
“Recent headlines have highlighted the importance of international trade and we should be rightly proud of the quality red meat we offer to markets around the world.”
Jonathan Eckley, AHDB
Eckley added: “While it is important to acknowledge some challenges on the global meat market, 2024 was a strong year for our red meat exports overall, which was encouraging. The figures underlined the global appetite for our red meat produce and it’s important for us to sustain that momentum with events like this inward mission.
“Recent headlines have highlighted the importance of international trade and we should be rightly proud of the quality red meat we offer to markets around the world. It has been a pleasure to highlight this to our international delegates, with the support of our exporters and colleagues in Government. We look forward to continuing working with industry and Government to help ensure our exporters are best placed to keep our world-class produce in pride of place on the global table.”
Department for Business and Trade spokesperson Tim Barraclough said: “AHDB continues to deliver key export support for the sector, ensuring appropriate access for key categories in growth markets. It is fantastic to see an international delegation of buyers coming to the UK to engage directly with our world-class sector.”
