In her New Yr message, the Chair of Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) Catherine Smith mentioned the sudden occasions of the previous 12 months have highlighted the necessity to help sustainable home meals manufacturing in 2023 to assist guarantee meals safety.
Trying again initially of 2022, she mentioned that no-one had anticipated Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the tragic struggle which ensued, in addition to its profound influence on the worldwide meals sector and costs.
“Right here in Wales, these are powerful occasions for farmers and customers alike because of the squeeze on the price of dwelling,” mentioned Catherine Smith. “Nonetheless our ideas are additionally with the farmers and communities of Ukraine, who’re struggling unimaginably.”
She added,
“In addition to the profound human price, a struggle on the European continent has highlighted the fragility of worldwide meals methods; the lack of a lot Ukrainian grain and different produce has had a critical influence far past its borders.
“It’s compelled us as a nation to look with recent eyes at how we will be sure that customers right here can have a reliable provide of reasonably priced, high quality meals, and the way we have to help our farmers,” mentioned Catherine.
The HCC Chair thanked British buyers for his or her help, and highlighted HCC’s work in main the Welsh pink meat sector to provide much more effectively and sustainably.
“All of the proof reveals that buyers belief and help our farmers, and perceive that we’re striving in direction of world-leading requirements of high quality, sustainability and traceability,” mentioned Catherine Smith.
“Now we have the proper panorama and local weather to provide lamb and beef in probably the most environmentally-responsible means doable. Now we have a duty to our customers each residence and overseas and to international meals safety, to take one of the best benefit of this” defined Catherine.
“HCC’s priorities for 2023 will probably be to construct on our ‘Welsh Method’ environmental blueprint by including to the proof base for our sustainable strategies of manufacturing, each to assist farmers and to elucidate our story to customers.”
