Sheepmeat sector plan
It is a processor driven initiative that will incorporate the participation of all stakeholders in the sector - the Department of Agriculture and Food, Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and Teagasc. The exercise is being jointly funded by Enterprise Ireland and the four major processing companies (Irish Country Meats, Kepak, Dawn Meats and Kildare Chilling).
Cormac Healy, Meat Industry Ireland said the aim is to set out a clear blueprint for sustainable growth and profitability at both production and processing levels in the Irish sheepmeat business.
"This study of the sector will have a keen commercial focus and the objective of identifying clear strategic initiatives, the implementation of which will contribute towards delivery of a vibrant sheep production and processing business in the country," he said.
Mr Healy said given the major changes that have occurred in the agri-policy environment and the impending changes likely to emerge from the WTO negotiations, it is essential that the Irish sheepmeat sector has a strategic blueprint to meet the challenges and capitalise on the opportunities ahead.
"Furthermore, as producers make decisions about their sheep enterprises in the post decoupling era, it is only right that a clear strategy for the future development of the wider sector is available to them," he said. Mr Healy said Meat Industry Ireland looks forward to working in co-operation with the other parties in the sector to create a strategic plan for the future.
Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan, who welcomed the initiative, said it was necessary to analyse and evaluate all aspects of the sheep breeding, production (farming), processing and marketing elements of the industry and their inter-relationship.
It was important to identify the changes that were needed in the various strategies to make them more effective in the future environment and to draw together a cohesive development plan that will put the industry on a solid footing in the post decoupling era, she said.
