The Sustainable Food Trust has called on the farming industry to complete a survey about its use of small abattoirs.
The survey, created by the Sustainable Food Trust in conjunction with Abattoir Sector Group members, the Soil Association, Rare Breeds Survival Trust and others, aims to gather evidence to show what role smaller local abattoirs play, and how abattoir closures have impacted farmers.
This follows a call for information from the Food Standards Agency last Autumn about the small abattoir discount on meat inspection charges; a more in-depth review is currently being conducted. The Sustainable Food Trust shared a briefing through the Abattoir Sector Group, which outlined some of the key issues, and is now gathering more detailed data and evidence to support its case.
Increased costs threaten abattoirs
Concern has grown in the industry that the current discount, which represents up to 90% of charges for some abattoirs, could be under threat. According to the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers, 40% of small-medium sized abattoirs would close without the discount, and according to National Craft Butchers, all its small abattoir members would close. This could have widespread negative impacts on consumer access to local meat, animal welfare, the viability and growth of farming and rural businesses, and the delivery of environmental land management.
The survey has been created for farmers to share more about the services they use, the challenges they already face in accessing an abattoir, and how any further closures would impact their businesses.
Megan Perry, head of policy and campaigns at the Sustainable Food Trust, called on the farming community to respond to the survey, stating: “We need to hear directly from those on the frontlines of farming to understand how abattoirs are important for their businesses and what the impact would be of losing the services they provide. We are particularly looking to understand how the wider economic, environmental and consumer benefits would be harmed.
“From our initial research, losing these services could have a devasting impact for local meat businesses and sustainable livestock farming. Abattoirs have already declined from 2,500 in the 1970s to just 200 today and further closures will leave farmers with nowhere to go.”
Commenting that policy makers need to support the growth of food processors to create a strong supply chain, Adrian Steele, organic sector development advisor for the Soil Association, said: “You would expect policymakers to be working to improve and enhance shorter supply chains, with a strategic focus on growing a resilient local food economy, supporting the long-term growth of food processing hubs such as packhouses and abattoirs across the UK. If the small abattoir discount is removed, it will have the opposite effect and will devastate local food economies throughout England and Wales.”
“A sustainable livestock sector depends on there being a network of local abattoirs.”
Christopher Price, chief executive of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust
Christopher Price, chief executive of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, said: “A sustainable livestock sector depends on there being a network of local abattoirs capable of processing a diverse range of species and breeds to meet the farmers’ needs. There is little point in Government claiming to support farming, particularly in some of our most marginal areas, in which extensive livestock farming is the only option, if it removes or significantly reduces the small abattoir discount, which will inevitably result in the destruction of a significant part of the small abattoir sector.”
