Articles

Id	Title	Subtitle	Content	Active	Archived	Category	User	Created	Modified	Actiuni
Id	Title	Subtitle	Content	Active	Archived	Category	User	Created	Modified	Actiuni
4563	Illegal Chinese beef imports discovered in the US		<p>B & C Food, a Californian firm, was asked to recall approximately 750 kilos of beef imported last year from China and shipped retail locations in California, Nevada, and Oklahoma. The products were imported from the People’s Republic of China, a country ineligible to export beef to the United States, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced. The problem was discovered when FSIS received an anonymous report of ineligible beef tallow products imported from China. The Chinese-style hot pot base products were imported on or around June 24, 2020. The following products are subject to recall:<br />(300 g) Plastic vacuum wrapped packages containing a “Lee’s 52° Da Zhuang” Hot Pot Base and a best before date of 10/12/2021 on the label;<br /> (300 g) Plastic vacuum wrapped packages containing a “Lee’s 45° Da Zhuang” Hot Pot Base and a best before date of 10/12/2021 on the label;<br />(300 g) Plastic vacuum wrapped packages containing a “Lee’s 36° Da Zhuang” Hot Pot Base and a best before date of 10/12/2021 on the label.<br />The product labels are written in the Chinese language. The products do not bear an establishment number nor a USDA mark of inspection. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider. <br />FSIS is concerned that some products may be in consumers’ homes. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.</p>	1		Market		2021-03-25 12:22:42	2025-08-13 05:46:39	Details Edit Delete
4564	Global pork production to reach 103 million tonnes	The figure projected by USDA stands for an increase of 6.1% compared with 2020.	<p>For this year, the United States Department of Agriculture projects that the global consumption of pork will be around 103 million tonnes. That is 6.1% higher than 2020's global pork production. An increase of 14.5% is expected at an annual rate in the case of China. This Asian country would contribute 41.9% of world pork production by the end of 2021, according to the report. In the European Union, the second-largest producer in the world, a slight increase of 0.2 percent is expected again. The third place in this chain is occupied by the United States, where an annual increase in production of 1% is expected, given the increase in domestic and foreign demand.<br />Regarding consumption, during 2020 it fell to the lowest level in more than a decade, despite the high pace of trade. The forecast for the short term is that world meat consumption will be below pre-ASF levels. In international trade, world exports in 2021 are expected to decrease 2.1% and the EU will remain the world's largest exporter of pork. Mexico will also benefit from the increased demand for pork from China and is expected to maintain a consistent growth in exports to the Chinese market.<br />Pork production in Mexico will reach 1.5 million tonnes this year, which would represent a national record. The increase is sustained by the growing demand, as well as the efforts of the local industry associated with genetic improvement.<br />In turn, national consumption is forecast at around 2.1 million tonnes, that is, an annual increase of 2.5% and a maximum historical consumption. The increase in consumption is mainly due to affordable prices, both for the final consumer and for the processing industry, among other factors. </p>	1		Industry		2021-03-26 07:03:18	2025-08-13 10:01:36	Details Edit Delete
4565	The Philippines bans poultry imports from 3 EU member states	Imports of domestic and wild birds and their products, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen from Denmark, Sweden and France are prohibited from this week.	<p>Three more EU member states are banned from exporting poultry to the Philippines, as they are fighting large outbreaks of H5N8 virus. A temporary ban was placed this week on imports of domestic and wild birds and their products, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen from Denmark, Sweden and France. The country's Department of Agriculture is also ordering the halt and confiscation of commodity shipments to the country by all DA veterinary quarantine officers/inspectors in all major ports. 25 EU member states have reported bird flu cases in the last couple of months but only 13 have been confronted with outbreaks on large farms. Germany, Poland and the Netherlands have already been banned from the Filipino poultry market due to this issue. A similar move was taken at the beginning of this month for poultry imports coming from the UK.<br />However, these decisions may lead to an increase in prices for poultry products in the Filipino market, warns Jesus C. Cham, president of the Meat Importers and Traders Association. “It is a pity that the supply situation is increasingly tight. This will translate into higher raw material costs for processors and, later, for consumers. We need to find a solution quickly,” he said. In his opinion, for a while, processors must absorb the impact in the best possible way. Since February, the Philippines decided to increase the quota in pork and poultry imports in an attempt to keep the prices under control. The country is facing a deficit in animal protein due to an ongoing ASF outbreak that started in 2019.</p>	1		Market		2021-03-26 07:19:35	2025-08-13 04:28:53	Details Edit Delete
4566	Plant-based food production encouraged by the Danish Gov	The Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Rasmus Prehn's ambition is for Denmark to be an absolute world leader in the coming years.	<p>Denmark will add a financial line of support of DKK 20 million (€2.68 million) for plant-based food producers, according to a press release from the Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries. Anyone can apply for funding, guarantees Minister Rasmus Prehn, whose ambition is to see the country becoming an absolute world leader in the field. According to official data, quinoa, chickpeas and lentils are on the menu of more and more Danes. "If Denmark is to occupy a place as a plant-based frontrunner, we need to create a good framework for plant-based food production. The money we now allocate will help enterprising farmers to develop, produce and sell the best plant-based, organic foods. Denmark is at the forefront of the organic field, and we can use that to develop plant-based foods. The interaction helps to ensure that, in addition to the climate, other important sustainability parameters and societal benefits are also delivered," said Minister Prehn.<br />Organic farming generally has a lower nitrogen consumption than other production and 30 percent more living species on organic land and adjacent habitats help to increase biodiversity. The 20 million will be implemented through a special pool in the Foundation for Organic Agriculture, which all qualified applicants are free to apply for. The idea behind the initiative is that the pool should support projects that strengthen the cultivation of plant-based foods, the knowledge base on nutrition, or the export of plant-based foods to other countries.</p>	1		Market		2021-03-26 07:33:18	2025-08-11 16:28:18	Details Edit Delete
4567	China receives WB loan for food safety project	The cost of foodborne diseases in terms of human capital productivity loss in China is estimated at more than $30 billion per year.	<p>The World Bank just approved a loan of $400 million to improve food safety management and reduce food safety risks in China. The country has an estimated loss, in terms of human capital productivity, of more than $30 billion per year, which stands for 50% of the total economic burden of foodborne infections in Asia, according to the financial institution.<br />The China Food Safety Improvement Project will strengthen regulations, enforcement, and compliance along value chains including seafood, pork, fruit and vegetables consistent with global practices. The total cost is $735 million. The project will be implemented by the State Administration of Market Regulation (SAMR) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas (MARA) at the national and provincial levels. Food safety enforcement and supervision will be supported in Guangdong and Shandong provinces.<br />"By taking an integrated and risk-based approach, consistent with global good practices, this project can help China mitigate the public health risks and reduce the economic and environmental costs associated with unsafe food production, processing and trading practices. Because China is a major food exporter and a hotspot for the emergence of foodborne diseases, the project carries important global benefits," said Martin Raiser, World Bank country director for China, quoted by Food Safety News.<br />Since 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated food safety challenges in processing, packaging, and transporting agricultural products. Improvements in food safety standards are important for China’s trading partners and agricultural export competitiveness.</p>	1		Market		2021-03-29 06:39:19	2025-08-13 03:10:56	Details Edit Delete
4568	Denmark allows more poultry sales at the barn door	Eggs, chicken meat, duck and geese limit in sales has been raised to encourage small local producers.	<p>From Easter onwards, Danish food producers can sell significantly more eggs and cleaned geese, ducks and chickens - both directly to consumers at the barn door and to local shops and restaurants. The possibilities will be expanded when the Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Rasmus Prehn changes the rules for, among other things, barn door sales.<br />"The previous limits on sales have helped to put a damper on consumers' opportunities to buy local raw materials in rural areas. And at the same time, the rules have made it difficult for local enthusiasts and smaller food producers to get a sensible business out of their sales," says Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Rasmus Prehn.</p> <p>The more lenient rules come into force on March 26, 2021. From then on, a local egg producer must sell just over 300,000 eggs from 1,000 hens a year instead of the 100,000 eggs from 500 hens that have been the limit so far. A local producer of geese, ducks and chickens is allowed to sell up to 2,000 poultry a year against the previous 500 poultry. In both cases, producers do not have to take more salmonella samples than before.<br />Equally important, many consumers can now also avoid having to clean the goose for intestines, gizzards and heart. The local poultry producer must also take care of this task, without first having to register as a retail company with the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration. The new, more lenient Danish rules are based on risk assessments from the DTU Food Institute.</p>	1		Industry		2021-03-29 06:51:44	2025-08-13 15:50:52	Details Edit Delete
4569	MBW to hold Global Dialogue before UN's Food System Summit	"The global meat industry is fragmented and I'm extremely concerned there isn't an aligned global narrative ahead of the UN FSS which could result in negative ramifications for our industry", worries Meat Business Women chair.	<p>Meat Business Women is facilitating an <a href="https://summitdialogues.org/dialogue/8888/">independent dialogue</a> on 14th April to engage with people working in the meat sector, including keynote speaker – UK Chief Veterinary Officer, Defra, Christine Middlemiss – and to workshop solutions that feed directly into the United Nations Food Systems Summit dialogue. The United Nations Food Systems Summit, scheduled for September of this year, aims to "bring together youth, smallholder farmers, indigenous peoples, researchers, private sector, policy leaders and ministers of agriculture, environment, health, and finance among others to deliver the latest evidence-based and scientific approach from around the world, launch a set of new commitments through coalitions of action, and mobilize new financing and partnerships." And it's imperative, the meat sector has a seat at the table, says the organization in a press release.<br />Meat Business Women chair Laura Ryan says: "The global meat industry is fragmented and I'm extremely concerned there isn't an aligned global narrative ahead of the UN FSS which could result in negative ramifications for our industry. Meat Business Women is a global unifying community that brings the sector together. Holding dialogues are fundamental to getting the voice heard of our sector and the important role it plays for all."</p> <p>The dialogue will explore how gender equality can deliver a more sustainable meat industry. Who needs to be involved and what actions need to be taken to ensure the involvement and empowerment of women working in the sector? And, what impact could gender equality have directly on the Action Tracks (specifically action track 2 &4) identified within the UNFSS?<br />Meat Business Women and their work in attracting and retaining the number of women working in the global meat sector has been already been identified as a solution to United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals.</p> <p>Meat Business Women works in partnership with meat businesses to remove the barriers that stop women from reaching their full professional potential. It does this by focusing on five key areas: changing perceptions of the sector; moving inclusion up the agenda; tackling the broken career ladder; strengthening networks and creating visible role models; and gender-proofing working practices and patterns. </p>	1		Events		2021-03-29 07:52:19	2025-08-13 13:54:44	Details Edit Delete
4570	ABPA concerned about fake labeling	International campaign to alert importers and potential customers against cases of fraud and false sales of Brazilian meat products.	<p>The Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA), in partnership with the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil), launched an international campaign to alert importers and potential customers against cases of fraud and false sales, which impact Brazilian poultry and pork exports. The campaign will feature videos in Portuguese, English and Mandarin that detail care in checking the alleged seller before payments are made. Among the measures, is the checking of data with ABPA and diplomatic posts abroad, informed ABPA in a press release. <br />Fake labeling does not concern only Brazilian meat producers but also other large players in the global market. In response to rising product fraud and increased demand for traceability, Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) and Oritain recently completed a joint project developing the capability to validate the authenticity of Australian red meat and lamb products in foreign markets. Oritain is a science and data company that deploys food forensics to trace red meat through the supply chain.<br />Using the unique geochemistry of different regions, the company developed a large sample library of unique chemical ‘fingerprints’ of red meat products. This is done by breaking down the fingerprints to determine the unique attributes to each region and how they differ from others. The system can effectively sample Australian beef or lamb from any international market and determine which region in Australia the product is from.</p> <p><em>(Photo Source: Direct Industry</em>)</p>	1		Industry		2021-03-30 07:18:51	2025-08-13 08:23:25	Details Edit Delete
4571	TOP NEWS	of the week!	<p> </p> <ul> <li><strong>EU:</strong> <strong>EU Sheep meat production drops back during 2020</strong></li> </ul> <p>Total sheep meat production in the EU-27 dropped back during 2020. 421,000 tonnes of sheep meat were produced by EU-27 countries, a decrease of 4% (-16,000 tonnes) on 2019 levels.</p> <p> </p> <ul> <li><strong>USA:</strong> <strong>Hope on the horizon for US foodservice</strong></li> </ul> <p>While the US foodservice industry has been hit particularly hard by the fallout from COVID-19, businesses remain optimistic, with expectations for a rebound in consumer activity in the second half of 2021. In January, survey data from the National Restaurant Association showed that restaurateurs remain positive, suggesting growth in the next six months.</p> <p> </p> <ul> <li><strong>NEW ZEALAND:</strong> <strong>Beef + Lamb New Zealand lodges Climate Change Commission submission</strong></li> </ul> <p>Beef + Lamb New Zealand broadly supports the thrust of the Climate Change Commission’s draft advice to the Government but is concerned at the high levels of carbon offsetting and significant methane emissions reductions proposed. B+LNZ supports the Commission’s focus on the need for New Zealand to decarbonise its economy by making actual real reductions of gross carbon dioxide emissions.</p> <p> </p> <ul> <li><strong>GERMANY: Toennies - next generation to take over, no comment on sales rumours</strong></li> </ul> <p>Germany’s largest meat processor Toennies is growing and expanding as the next generation of the family is taking over, declining to comment on a report that the group was seeking a buyer.</p> <p> </p> <ul> <li id="mcetoc_1f2104rk10"><strong>UK: British meat industry warns of permanent loss of trade with EU</strong></li> </ul> <p>The British meat industry warned of a permanent loss of export trade with the European Union of between 20% and 50% even after post-Brexit “teething problems” are ironed out.</p> <p> </p> <ul> <li><strong>SPAIN: INTERPORC - The pig sector reduced its water footprint by 15% in the last 10 years </strong></li> </ul> <p>The water footprint of the activity in pig farms has been reduced by 15% in the last 10 years thanks, among other issues, to the improvement in the conversion rates of feed or the optimization of facilities, equipment and water quality, as well as cleaning and cooling systems.</p> <p> </p> <ul> <li><strong>EU: Study - Plant-based alternatives will take over Europe by 2035</strong></li> </ul> <p>In 2020 alone, consumers worldwide ate 574 million metric tons of meat, seafood, dairy, and eggs, which equates to almost 75 kilograms per person. In comparison, about 13 million metric tons of protein alternatives were consumed globally last year, just 2 per cent of the market. The report forecasts that plant-based proteins will capture 11 per cent of the meat, seafood and dairy market by 2035, rising to 97 million metric tons.</p> <p> </p> <ul> <li><strong>ARGENTINE: January 2021 - Argentine beef exports in decrease</strong></li> </ul> <p>Argentine beef exports corresponding to the first month of 2021 reached an approximate value of 199 million dollars, resulting 12% lower than the 226.1 million dollars obtained in January 2020. Argentine beef exports accumulated over the last year, from February 2020 to January 2021, were located in volumes close to 907 thousand tons equivalent to beef with bone, for a value close to 2,690 million dollars.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>EU: EU pork exports finish 2020 on a high</strong></li> </ul> <p>The EU exported 358,100 tonnes of fresh and frozen pork in December 2020, up 32% (86,000 tonnes) compared to the same month in 2019.</p> <p> </p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>DENMARK: Strong demand for pork in China</strong></li> </ul> <p>While the European market for fresh pork is moving sideways, while all players in the market are waiting for the corona restrictions to be eased, there is serious momentum in Asia. Not unexpectedly, it is China that is pulling the market up.</p>	1		Industry	adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro	2021-03-30 07:20:21	2025-08-13 00:44:40	Details Edit Delete
4572	IAWS: Improvement of productivity through animal welfare	Through the seal "WELFARE COMMITMENT CERTIFIED", the operators guarantee the good practices carried out not only in animal welfare but also in food safety, animal handling, animal health and biosecurity.	<p>Some scientific studies indicate that the application of higher life quality for animals involves a reduction in mortality, higher meat quality and, consequently, an easier conquest of markets that are more and more interested and demand more this welfare. Therefore, it means higher productivity and economic efficiency for meat companies.</p> <p><img src="/files/pictures/article/iaws-logo-eng-traz_1.jpg?1617096111680" alt="iaws-logo-eng-traz_1" height="100%" /></p> <p><br />The animal welfare and biosecurity certification INTERPORC ANIMAL WELFARE SPAIN (IAWS), based on the 5 freedoms established by the OIE and the 12 general criteria of animal welfare taking into account European regulations, ensures compliance with the regulations in this matter and establishes even more demanding requirements. By optimizing the care of the animals through a correct diet based on their nutritional needs, the correct state and maintenance of their housing, the adequate sanitary status of the farms, and allowing the development of the natural behaviors of the species, it has a positive effect on the productivity of farms.</p> <p>A Scientific Committee of experts in animal welfare provides the scientific component and evaluates and decides on any modification to be applied to the Animal Welfare and Biosafety Technical Regulation IAWS. Therefore, it becomes a dynamic regulation and a tool for continuous improvement based on scientific principles.<br />Through the seal "WELFARE COMMITMENT CERTIFIED", the operators guarantee the good practices carried out not only in animal welfare but also in food safety, animal handling, animal health and biosecurity, producing general improvements in all these matters.<br />More and more countries require and request standards and certifications in animal welfare for the exports of meat products. In this sense, the IAWS certification is the certification of the Spanish white pork sector, so its international promotion and acceptance by the main importing countries of Spanish meat benefit its trade.<br />Consumers, being more aware of animal welfare every day, look for products that provide food safety and quality through seals that certify it at the same time. The IAWS certification provides these aspects and has a positive impact, inspiring confidence in the consumer, and generating a higher reputation and sales of the product.<br />For further information, please check our website: https://www.bienestaranimalcertificado.com/animal-welfare-certified/</p> <p> </p>	1		Industry		2021-03-30 09:28:01	2025-08-11 10:55:28	Details Edit Delete
4573	15 Argetiniam meat producers suspended from export	The companies are accused of dodging taxes on their meat shipments abroad.	<p>15 Argentinian meat producers are suspended from export after governmental officials have uncovered large shipments of meat that were not registered with the state. At least 40 tonnes of shipments from one of the world’s best-known beef producers are questioned in this case, informs Reuters. The country’s agriculture ministry said in a statement it had uncovered several meat export operations that had undercut competitors and evaded taxes by failing to properly register their businesses with the state.</p> <p>The report did not list the names of the companies involved or the destinations of the exports. State prosecutors would begin preparing formal complaints shortly, once inspections are completed, the ministry said in the statement. Argentina is a major world exporter of beef and one of the main suppliers in the Chinese market. Last year, Argentina exported more than 850,000 tonnes of beef to China, accounting for almost 75% of total beef exports. The figures are similar to those reported in 2019 when Argentina directed more than 70% of the beef exports to the Chinese market. The total volume of Argentinian beef exported to China in 2019 stood at 870,000 tonnes.</p>	1		Industry		2021-03-30 09:10:29	2025-08-13 12:57:39	Details Edit Delete
4574	Increased volatility in the global poultry market - Rabobank	A sum of factors, including AI, high feed prices, scarcity in the breeding stock, and oversupply in several markets will act as barriers in the sector.	<p>The poultry industry is to recover slowly in the following months, due to its high dependence on the foodservice sector (35%), says the latest quarterly outlook from Rabobank. As countries reopen foodservice, and while their control of Covid-19 improves, the poultry industry will start to recover. “In countries where several of these disruptive factors come together, broiler prices have risen to high levels. Some governments have started to intervene to protect their economies against price inflation,” according to Nan-Dirk Mulder, Senior Analyst – Animal Protein. This sort of situation could occur more often in 2021, driven by Covid-19, AI-related disruption of breeding stock, and high feed prices.<br />The best performing industries, for now at least, are in the US, Mexico, Japan, and Russia, while oversupply raises issues for poultry producers in the EU, South Africa, and Thailand.<br />Avian Influenza is also a problem for some of the largest producers in the EU but also for those in Russia and East Asia. The outbreaks have disrupted trade flows of hatching eggs, DOCs, and poultry from Europe and that is to have an impact on production in the following months. At the same time, a recovery in pig production in China and Vietnam could reduce the demand of poultry meat from these countries. Among the key points for producers is disciplined planning to increase supply, focus on reducing production costs, efficiency in production and the formulation of feed, as well as being prepared for large balances in demand caused by decisions made by government officials in relation to the pandemic.<br />At this moment, global trade is still highly competitive, with trade levels still down (-4%) and low prices. This market will recover slowly due to its high dependence on foodservice and the still high stock levels in import markets, concluded the analysts.</p>	1		Industry		2021-03-31 06:40:46	2025-08-13 15:41:15	Details Edit Delete
4575	"The export hurdles we face are not going away" - BMPA	British meat companies are painting a very different picture from the one presented by the Government.	<p>The first <a href="http://britishmeatindustry.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Brexit-impact-report-web.pdf">Brexit Impact Report</a> issued by the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) paints a different picture from the one offered by the Government. Dismissing trade disruption at the borders as simply short-term ‘teething problems’ is no longer credible, as the first quarter outside the EU market presents a grim outlook for the UK meat exports. Companies are reporting systemic weaknesses in the current export system, mountains of red tape and a potential permanent loss of trade of between 20% and 50%. Nick Allen, CEO of The British Meat Processors Association explains: “British companies who are dealing with the new issues on the ground are best placed to offer constructive solutions, but these solutions need support and investment from Government to build a new system that is fit for purpose.”</p> <p>The report focuses on three key areas that, if addressed, would drastically improve our ability to hold on to our trade with EU customers.</p> <p>Inspection and certification – learning from other more efficient and cost-effective systems;<br /> Electronic documentation – moving from an antiquated paper-based system to a modern, integrated digital system;<br /> Common Veterinary Area – negotiating a more robust agreement with the EU to follow parallel rules which would ease problems sending food to both the EU and to Northern Ireland.</p> <p>Nick Allen added: “The export hurdles we face are now in plain sight and are not going away. We need Government to urgently re-engage with both the industry and the EU to work out detailed and lasting solutions. The British Meat Processors Association and its members stand ready to consult with the Government and map out those solutions”.</p>	1		Market		2021-03-31 07:18:21	2025-08-12 02:34:58	Details Edit Delete
4576	23 million tonnes of pork produced in the EU last year	The figure shows an increase of 1% compared with the volume reported for 2019.	<p>The total pig meat production in the EU, for 2020, stood at 23 million tonnes, 1% higher than a year before, announced Eurostat. Spain showed a notable increase in production for the year, up 8% year-on-year to 5 million tonnes in 2020. Strong demand from Asia has likely influenced production growth, which has further widened the gap in the rate of expansion between Spain and other major European pig producers. Denmark also grew 6% year-on-year, totaling 1.6 million tonnes for the year. However, that may be a result of a fall in demand for live pigs in German abattoirs due to the COVID-19 outbreaks that halted activity in some of the country's largest slaughterhouses.</p> <p><img src="/files/pictures/article/EU%20pig%20production%2020.jpg?1617189727064" alt="EU pig production 20" height="100%" /></p> <p>"Conversely, production in Germany, the EU’s largest producer, fell by 126,000 tonnes (2%) to 5.1 million tonnes for the year. This is unsurprising considering the outbreak of ASF in the country, COVID-19 related challenges, and a contracting herd in recent years. Italian production also declined by 12% (177,000 tonnes) compared to the previous year," commented Brownyn Magee, AHDB analyst.<br />Looking forward, the total number of pigs in the EU-27 increased in December, with most of this increase coming from fattening pigs. "This could lead to a lift in EU production in the first few months of 2021. Although, a marginal decline in the breeding herd could still point towards a more stable production in the medium term if continued increasing sow productivity is considered," Mrs. Magee added.</p>	1		Industry		2021-03-31 11:22:42	2025-08-13 16:40:56	Details Edit Delete
4577	Smithfield Foods goes for green packaging	By 2030, the company intends to have consumer packaging that is 90% recyclable, reusable, or industrially compostable and to halve the use of virgin petroleum-based plastic.	<p>Smithfield Foods announced its plans to achieve consumer packaging that is 90% recyclable, reusable, or industrially compostable and to halve the use of virgin petroleum-based plastic.<br />To meet these goals, the company has established an internal cross-functional team to investigate and explore new strategic packaging and plastic-use reduction options. Among the team's current efforts is the identification and testing of replacements for products currently packaged using polystyrene (PS) trays.<br />Both the new recyclable packaging and plastic reduction goals build upon the company's zero-waste-to-landfill initiative, which outlines a plan to reduce overall solid waste sent to landfills 75% by 2025 through utilizing or recycling materials once disposed of as garbage.</p> <p>"Continual efforts to innovate packaging in favor of materials that can be recycled, reused and composted is an important component of holistic, sustainable food production," said Stewart Leeth, chief sustainability officer for Smithfield Foods. "As a food-industry sustainability pioneer, Smithfield recognizes the importance of continuing to explore new ways to build upon our ambitious commitments and reduce waste across production and operations." Smithfield is an active member of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC), the authority and leading voice on sustainable packaging and related initiatives. <br />As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability and constant product innovation, Smithfield launched the Pure Farmland brand in 2019, a plant-based protein line featuring sustainable packaging and trays made from more than 50% recycled material.</p>	1		Technology		2021-04-01 11:23:55	2025-08-13 11:53:52	Details Edit Delete
4578	NZ Gov to take a final decision on livestock exports	Live animal exports have been suspended in September last year and resumed a month after that.	<p>A final decision on livestock exports will be announced by New Zealand's government in the next couple of months, according to Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor, quoted by Radio New Zealand. The review on the process has started in June 2019 but since then, a tragic accident occurred in September last year, when the Gulf Livestock 1 ship sank with 43 crew members, including two New Zealanders, and almost 6000 cattle on board.<br />The incident forced the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to halt the livestock exports for a month. "It's one we're working really carefully through. There's obviously an industry involved, the whole rural sector has a focus on this, some support, some don't. So we have to ensure that the people we're trading with and the people involved in the trade ... are kept in the loop and that they're aware of possible changes," Minister O'Connor said. <br />In the last 6 months, officials have taken into consideration longer-term changes suggested by the reviewers, such as needing more information in Animal Welfare Export Certificate applications. Nevertheless, that does not satisfy animal advocacy group SAFE who wants a total ban on livestock exports from New Zealand, considering that the animals end up in poorer welfare conditions compared to NZ standards.<br />SAFE's campaign manager Bianka Atlas claims that the government has encouraged livestock exports all through 2020. Figures from MPI show almost 110,000 cows were exported to China in the last year, compared to 39,000 in 2019 and 14,000 in 2018. In the last 6 months, eight other shipments were sent to China. Live sheep exports for slaughter from New Zealand have been banned since 2003.</p>	1		Industry		2021-04-01 12:01:28	2025-08-13 17:03:54	Details Edit Delete
4579	WH Group's meat imports to remain high	Elevated prices for pork will remain present this year due to new ASF outbreaks.	<p>China's largest pork processor, WH Group, announced that will keep meat imports high for the rest of the year as prices are expected to remain elevated due to new ASF outbreaks reported in the country. "While Chinese pork prices will ease in the second half as supply expands, they’ll remain significantly higher than overseas, creating an opportunity for higher imports," explain the Group's VP Guo Lijun. Last year, the company imported 700,000 tonnes of meat, mainly pork, supplied from the US and EU aand some volumes of beef and chicken imported from South American countries, according to Bloomberg news agency.<br />The latest swine fever outbreak in China, especially in northern regions, is partly due to the use of “immature vaccines,” Ma Xiangjie, executive director, said at the briefing. This has hurt domestic hog supplies and may cause prices to remain high. However over the full year, pork prices will probably be lower than 2020, he said, without giving an estimate. WH Group did not detect the virus among the pigs it slaughtered.<br />The company expects to benefit from the recovery in Chinese consumption and local hog population from the 2018-19 swine fever outbreak, but sees challenges from rising costs and lower supply from the US and Europe amid the coronavirus pandemic.<br />WH Group owns SmithfieldFoods, the largest pork producer in the world. Its Chinese operations contributed 66% to the group’s 2020 profit, while US made up 24%, according to Guo. The company is planning to expand poultry sales this year.</p>	1		Market		2021-04-01 12:27:45	2025-08-13 15:25:22	Details Edit Delete
4580		Feed prices have jumped and that makes farmers nervous.	<p>After a continuous decrease since September 2020, the pig price in France stabilized around the average price of 1.20 € per kg carcass from the beginning of December until mid-February of this year.<br />However, since last month, pig prices have continuously increased to reach €1.35 at the end of the month. This may be justified by a rise in the price of feed, which today stands at around €280 per ton. " As a result, some pig producers started to struggle. Nevertheless, the gradual disappearance of supply surpluses and strong exports led to an increase in prices. In the last 5 weeks, the hog price has gained 0.15 € per kg carcass weight. The Easter holiday will nevertheless lead to an activity drop, which will have to be monitored, in a context of weak domestic demand," commented Philippe Malltroit, Director for France, Genesus Inc.<br />The average carcass weight for the first 12 weeks of 2021 is 96.93 kg with an average price of 1.246 €/kg. There is still room for prices to go higher as producers do not get much profit due to the spike in feed prices. Nevertheless, this depends largely on how the demand for pork in the EU market is going to increase. Easter holiday usually marks the beginning of the grilling season but restrictions applied due to the coronavirus crisis are going to last in some of the EU member states for at least a month.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p>	1		Industry		2021-04-02 10:34:50	2025-08-13 06:21:05	Details Edit Delete
4581	FAO triggers AI alert for Africa	The FAO alert says that the disease has spread rapidly in the wild bird population of Western Europe.	<p>FAO told African nations to be on high alert for bird flu after several outbreaks of the virus have been reported in wild birds across Europe. The FAO alert says that the disease has spread rapidly in the wild bird population of Western Europe. 70 cases have been reported in the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the Netherlands. Commercial farms have also been affected by outbreaks of bird flu. As wild birds act as reservoirs for the virus and will soon begin to migrate across Africa, the risk of transmission is growing.<br />"FAO recommends that countries in Africa be on the alert for the incursion of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 (HPAI), after increasing reports from European countries of wild bird detection last week. Countries and farms should have implemented improved measures for prevention, detection and early diagnosis and response to outbreaks. In addition, it is likely that the virus has already reached parts of West and North Africa, but has not been detected until now," the agency said in a statement.<br />FAO is recommending that African nations increase disease surveillance efforts in wild birds and poultry and limit contact between poultry and wild flocks. The organization says to pay extra attention to shared sources of drinking water to avoid contamination. Previous outbreaks of bird flu in 2017 threatened the livelihood and food security of millions of people in Africa.</p>	1		Industry		2021-04-02 10:58:59	2025-08-13 15:53:01	Details Edit Delete
4582	Aussie beef exports to SE Asia drops	Modest growth was seen only in shipments to Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, while Malaysia had the steepest decline.	<p>Prolonged restrictions and closures in foodservice outlets, corresponding with tight domestic cattle supplies, have seen subdued beef trade volumes for the start of the year in South East Asia, reports Meat and Livestock Australia. Total beef exports into South-East Asia (SEA) eased 25% year-on-year for the month of February.<br />A major shock comes from Malaysia, a country where Australian beef exporters are seeing a fall of 68% year-on-year for the first two months of 2021. There is a limited number of approved Australian beef suppliers to Malaysia as the market maintains a strict importation regime. Supplier limitation and the current supply shortage in Australia are the primary catalysts for subdued volumes in general. The sharp decline in boxed beef exports into Malaysia has also been exacerbated by a strong Australian dollar.<br />The heightened number of Australian grass-fed cattle being retained for restocking purposes has resulted in a modest increase in exports for grain-fed beef, especially chilled, which has lifted 22% in the 12 months to February.<br />Exports to Indonesia followed similar trends, contracting 21% for January and February compared to last year. Ongoing financial uncertainty and social restrictions on food service, public events and catering, have put downwards pressure on beef exports, with importers wanting to avoid surplus inventory. However, despite a year-on-year decline in total exports, volumes have seen a steady increase since November, when COVID-19 related restrictions started to ease in Indonesia.<br />Total volumes for the first two months of the year remained steady on year-ago levels in Singapore and Vietnam. More households have chosen to consume home-cooked meals as opposed to dining out, which has helped mitigate further losses in the foodservice sector for Australian beef exports. Boxed beef exports to Vietnam for the months of January and February saw a marginal lift of 4% on year-ago levels, while export levels to Singapore moved sideways.</p>	1		Market		2021-04-02 10:11:48	2025-08-13 12:05:20	Details Edit Delete

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