Controversial 33m research plan to be debated at NPA autumn meetings
UK - BPEX’s proposed research and development plan will be one of the main talking points in National Pig Association’s autumn round of regional meetings next month.
NPA is active on members' behalf in Brussels & Whitehall, and with processors, supermarkets & caterers - fighting for the growth and pros-perity of the UK pig industry. |
The research plan proposes devoting a much larger share of levy income to research-and-development spending, including a new research farm, and the appointment of a team of advisers to explain research results to producers.
Members are urged to attend and say their piece. NPA Producer Group members have already approved the 33m plan in principle, but the regional meetings will give all members the opportunity to express a view.
The views of NPA members could be pivotal, as BPEX producer members are far from united over whether the Thelwall Report "Long-term Research and Development Priorities for the British Pig Industry" is the right way ahead for the industry.
The first of the regional meetings will be in East Anglia on Tuesday October 12 at Manns of Saxham. It is proposed to devote 5.30pm to 6.30pm to surgeries, followed by the meeting itself at 6.30pm, followed by refreshments at 8.30pm. Theme of the meeting will be "East Anglia - a good place to produce pigs?" and will include a presentation on the Thelwall Report by BPEX members.
The drive behind all the autumn NPA meetings will be to examine what business opportunities exist to justify investment in pig enterprises, says organiser Ian Campbell. "I want to be positive but we have to be realistic - nobody should be encouraged to do things that don't make business sense."
Source:National Pig Association - 8th September 2004