LMC presentation highlights key trends within beef market  

THE latest trends shaping the outlook for the beef sector were the subject of focus at a recent industry presentation, delivered by the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC).

Attended by approximately 30 industry representatives, the presentation delivered by Sam Coalter, LMC Agricultural Market Analyst, provided a comprehensive overview of global market dynamics before honing in on the European market and closing with tailored insight to the specific position of the UK and NI beef sector.

A key theme reiterated by Sam throughout the presentation was the importance of Northern Ireland’s reputation for quality beef and lamb particularly against a backdrop of changing import dynamics and a greater proportion of beef being sourced from lower-cost producing countries. For Northern Ireland, this reinforces the opportunity to compete on quality and provenance, rather than price alone. The animal welfare, care for the environment and food safety attributes that are delivered via the Farm Quality Assurance Scheme (FQAS) were referenced as important guarantees for consumers.

Sam said, “Understanding the factors influencing beef markets around the world is increasingly important for producers and the wider industry. In Northern Ireland we produce red meat to some of the highest standards globally and it is important that within the context of the global market we emphasis and reiterate the independent quality guarantees that FQAS delivers. This helps bolster the integrity of our local production systems and encourages consumers to be mindful of the provenance of the red meat they choose to purchase.”

Sam went on to note that LMC plays a vital role in supporting the beef and sheep meat industry, providing a range of services including: market intelligence, marketing, education, FQAS and ongoing involvement in sustainability projects.