4 November 2011

2 minute read

Europe

Speaking as he closed the one-day Warwickshire event, EBLEX chairman John Cross said significant disease outbreak was a “major Achilles heel” for the sector and could halt access to export markets where trade is currently booming.

And he said accurate, high-speed databases for both the sheep and beef sectors that capture the transactional life history of animals and their assurance status would put us on an equal – or better – footing than our competitors and help manage the risk of a major outbreak, such as foot and mouth disease.

“I realise this is a challenge and there will be cost involved but I believe it is a vital move for the industry and it needs to be considered sooner rather than later,” he told the 170 delegates.

“These are very volatile times but the industries and businesses that survive times like these are not the biggest, richest or smartest necessarily, but the ones with the fastest response and a willingness to change.

“You have shown a willingness to change the way you think, for example by investing through EBLEX in a global market vision that is already working to build a competitive future for the English beef and sheep sector. No one else is going to grant us a secure future. We are the ones who have to act to mitigate the risks and optimise the opportunities presented by global markets, on one hand, and technical advancement of productivity and efficiency on the other.”

The comments echoed those made by EBLEX sector director Nick Allen earlier in the day when he said the “time was right” for a real-time database to improve traceability.

All presentations from the day are available in the conference news section of the EBLEX website.