Meat conference to explore new export opportunities

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board’s (AHDB’s) Meat Export Conference takes place on June 30 at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire. The event, which is free to levy payers, is being coordinated by AHDB’s beef and lamb sector and will examine the opportunities and challenges facing the industry.

The event will be staged under the new AHDB Beef and Lamb banner, the re-branded EBLEX, as part of the AHDB’s wider journey to deliver improved benefits for all its levy payers. AHDB chairman Peter Kendall will introduce the conference, which will be opened by National Farmers’ Union (NFU) chairman Meurig Raymond.

Among the topics for discussion will be the EU lamb promotion programme, medium and long-term prospects for UK sheep meat, as well as a study of world trends and potential for UK beef and lamb in the US market. A panel discussion looking at the prospects for the world meat trade and UK exports will follow before Mr Kendall closes the conference.

Export manager Jean-Pierre Garnier said: “Exports remains one of the cornerstones of our work, adding value to the industry with a focus on the shipment of cuts, rather than carcases. We now export 40 per cent of UK sheep meat, 28 per cent of pig meat and 16 per cent of beef.

“Our export conference provides the ideal opportunity for us to showcase this work and a platform for industry stakeholders to discuss key opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.”

For further details and to book your place please visit www.eblex.org.uk/events/conference-2015/ahdb-meat-export-conference-2015/