Continuing loss of small abattoirs threatens to destroy local meat marketing
27th February 2018
NSA has lent it's support to a call for a network of small, local abbatoirs in a report launched by the Sustainable Food Trust on Monday (26th February). NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker has provided the forward for the report titled ' A Good Life and a Good Death' that suggests the UK’s network of small local abattoirs is near collapse, reducing the ability of farmers to market locally-produced meat.
The Sustainable Food Trust calls for the Government to recognise the importance of small, local abattoirs and find innovative and practical solutions to ensure their survival. It also asks that mobile and static abattoirs to be facilitated for on-farm slaughtering. Phil comments: “Sheep farmers who operate as producer-retailers are an important part of the mix when it comes to marketing options for sheepmeat. Small, local abattoirs are essential for those operations and this timely report draws attention to the rapidly changing and complex crisis facing them. I hope the Government and industry will work together to offer a long-term future for our diminishing network of local abattoirs before it is too late.”
The report, A Good Life and a Good Death - Relocalising farm animal slaughter is published on 26 February 2018
