Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Victoria Prentis has today (Thursday, February 10) announced that a review of the Supply Chain Fairness in the pig sector will be launched.
Taking to Twitter, Prentis said:
“Constructive conversation with pig sector representatives today. I am pleased to announced that we will launch a review of Supply Chain Fairness in the pig sector – more details to come.
“We will continue to work with the sector on the immediate challenges they are facing.”
Constructive conversation
The conversation to which Prentis is referring to took place in London today with the National Pig Association (NPA) and the National Farmers’ Union (NFU). The purpose of which was to discuss the ongoing pig industry crisis.
NPA chairman Rob Mutimer and NFU president Minette Batters had written to Defra Secretary George Eustice on January 21, calling on him to arrange such a meeting.
“The NPA and NFU are asking that you arrange a summit of the entire pig supply chain so that we can agree a plan to get these pigs off farms and onto people’s plates,” the letter said.
While the industry crisis summit was taking place in the capital, producers and allied industry supporters gathered at Defra offices in York to amplify the message.
“We are gathering at York today to support the producers are involved in the actual summit and get the media really interested in what’s happening on a farm level,” said Yorkshire producer Vicky Morgan, one of the Saving GB Bacon organiser.
Pig sector crisis in numbers
According to the NPA, no less than 35,000 healthy pigs have been culled and destroyed as a result of the ongoing backlog.
And, the association said, 40 independent farms have left the industry.
