Beef industry rationalisation talks proceed

GOOD progress is reported to have been made in talks to rationalise the beef industry, worth €1.5 billion to the economy.

The development was announced as the main players in the sector prepared to meet with Agriculture and Food Minister Joe Walsh at his invitation in Dublin last evening.

Rationalisation was not on the agenda for the meeting. It focused mainly on markets, with Bord Bia chief executive Michael Duffy outlining a five-year strategy to significantly increase exports to the Continent, and to target the upper end of the market.