Biosecurity in our business: Ian addresses The Norfolk Farming Conference

Last week Ian delivered a presentation at The Norfolk Farming Conference as part of the conference’s bid to consider how prepared the UK was to tackle biosecurity challenges in plants & livestock. Ian presented a case study on our business which looked at the challenges we face around biosecurity, the steps we take to mitigate these and the further support we need.

The conference had opened with the Farming Minister, Daniel Zeichner, claiming that biosecurity at the borders is one of the government’s number one priorities. However, as Ian pointed out in his speech, the head of the Dover Port Health Authority told the EFRA Select Committee just days earlier that checks on illegal, unregulated meat imports would cease at the port without funding commitments from the government in the coming weeks. Ian also talked about the challenge we face from the public who, increasingly detached and disengaged from the source of their food, can often be a threat to biosecurity themselves. Ian ended his presentation challenging conference attendees to recognise the shared responsibility of the farming sector to maintain biosecurity if we want to continue to see British produce on our plates.

Thanks to our friends at The AF Group, you can watch Ian’s presentation below.