Genotyping, regenerative agriculture practices and earlier finishing are among the key sustainability initiatives highlighted in a new four-part video series launched on Monday by Meat Industry Ireland (MII).
By promoting the video series, MII, the Ibec sector association representing primary beef, pork and lamb processing facilities, is seeking to raise awareness of the progress being made by its members to reach ambitious environmental targets and to assist in reducing agricultural emissions by the required 25% by 2030.
Presented by MII Senior Executive, Síle Sweeney, the videos focus on four case studies in collaboration with MII members, ABP, Dawn Meats, Kepak and Liffey Meats, which serve to illustrate the large-scale sustainability initiatives being implemented by the wider beef industry.
Since 2015, MII members have invested more than €200 million in sustainability initiatives at processing and farm level. This includes programmes to support healthier animals and the development and funding of best-practice demonstration farms. The beef sector remains a mainstay in the country’s rural communities with 90,000 farm families and 25,000 jobs supported. It is estimated that the sector generated almost €7 billion for the wider Irish rural economy in 2023.
MII and its members are committed to accelerating sustainability progress and working towards the targets outlined in the National Climate Action Plan. Working with farmer suppliers to encourage on-farm water quality improvement actions is also a key priority.
“The Irish beef sector has successfully built an internationally renowned reputation as a supplier of high-quality, grass-fed beef to more than 60 markets globally,” Dale Crammond, Director of MII, said. “It has done this by focusing on the value of output and, increasingly, by supporting a sustainable future for the rural economy. Each of our members now has comprehensive and science-backed sustainability programmes in place and they are working to achieve their own ambitious targets while supporting their suppliers to do likewise. Our new video series captures just some of this work and is designed to promote and inform the public about the measurable impact and progress being made across key priority areas.”
The full video series can be found at www.ibec.ie/connect-and-learn/
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