Meat Industry Taskforce disbanding brings clarity

Media Release

27 June 2008

Meat & Wool New Zealand says the disbanding of the Meat Industry Taskforce has brought increased clarity to where the organisation must put its effort for farmers.

Chairman, Mike Petersen says Meat & Wool New Zealand will be using the farmer consultation meetings planned in July and August to provide key market trend information and to work with farmers on ways they can better respond to market opportunities.

“The Taskforce went to great lengths to try and develop a sector strategy looking at the high level issues that would move the industry forward. Unfortunately some meat companies wouldn’t provide informed consent to enable PwC to develop the strategy. The subsequent withdrawal of PwC from the process left the Taskforce with no other option than to disband.

“So while the sector strategy as first envisaged won’t now proceed, Meat & Wool New Zealand is not prepared to lose the momentum for change that continues to build. The work on an industry solution has not ended, but will now take on a different form.

“We will facilitate farmer discussions and develop strategies for farmers that benefit the areas of the value chain where we can have influence. Those areas are predominantly behind the farm-gate, in market access and development and in a range of risk mitigation areas.

“We continue to engage with meat exporters who will work with us in this process.”

Mr Petersen said Meat & Wool New Zealand would be signing up to the Government’s Fast Forward initiative as a cornerstone investor.

“The Fast Forward announcement will signal to farmers and industry that Meat & Wool New Zealand intends to contribute to developing a comprehensive plan for the future of the industry.”

ENDS

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