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7527  MLA: Highest sheepmeat and goatmeat exports on record  The past financial year has seen a huge burst in export volumes, with Australian export numbers for red meat the highest on record at over 2 million tonnes, according to Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA). Lamb, mutton and goatmeat all had record high volumes, while beef exports matched the levels seen during 2019–20.  <p><span lang="DE">Sheepmeat exports totalled 587,262 tonnes over FY24. This is 24% higher than FY23 and the highest on record. Exports lifted across the board, but the biggest increase was clearly seen in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, where exports rose 76% to 125,088 tonnes. Lamb exports rose by 60%, while mutton exports doubled to 54,039 tonnes.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Lamb exports to the US rose 20% to 80,787 tonnes, while mutton exports to Malaysia rose 14% to 11,516 tonnes. The only major market that did not see substantial increases in export volume was China, where both mutton and lamb exports lifted 6% to 64,373 tonnes and 84,022 tonnes respectively.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Beef exports totalled 1.2 million tonnes over the financial year, a 29% increase from FY23 and a similar volume to 2019&ndash;20.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">The biggest lift was in exports to North America, where numbers doubled to 343,034 tonnes. After a period of rapid destocking in the US cattle herd between 2018 and 2023, US slaughter has begun to decline. At the same time, demand has remained robust and the US dollar has strengthened, meaning that demand for Australian beef has lifted substantially.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Exports to Australia&rsquo;s other major markets also recorded strong increases; exports to Japan rose 14% to 238,220 tonnes, exports to China rose 7% to 197,048 tonnes and exports to South Korea rose 8% to 191,270 tonnes.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Australian goatmeat exports rose 63% over FY24 to 42,383 tonnes, the highest figure on record. Most of the increase in exports went to North America; exports to the USA rose 96% to 22,427 tonnes, and exports to Canada lifted 118% to 2,085 tonnes.</span></p>    Market adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro 2024-07-09 00:20:16  2025-07-09 03:43:05  Details Edit Delete
7528  How artificial intelligence is transforming meat processing  The industry must continually evolve to stay competitive and meet the growing demands for efficiency, quality, and sustainability. We understand this critical need for innovation in the meat processing industry. Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is at the forefront of this evolution, offering transformative solutions to optimize every aspect of meat processing.  <p><strong>Why AI is essential in meat processing</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The meat processing industry faces numerous challenges, including the need for precise cutting, quality control, labor shortages, and the demand for sustainability. AI addresses these challenges by automating complex tasks, ensuring consistency, and improving overall operational efficiency. Here are some key reasons why AI is becoming indispensable:</p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Precision and efficiency: AI systems can analyze data with high accuracy, making precise cuts and identifying optimal processing techniques. This enhances yield and reduces waste.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Quality control: AI-powered vision systems can detect defects and ensure that only the highest quality products reach the market. This capability is vital for maintaining brand reputation and customer satisfaction.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Labor efficiency: By automating repetitive and labor-intensive tasks, AI reduces the dependency on human labor, which is particularly beneficial in addressing labor shortages and reducing operational costs.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Sustainability: AI can optimize resource use and reduce waste, contributing to more sustainable processing practices. This is increasingly important as consumers and regulators demand more environmentally friendly operations.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Example applications of AI in our solutions</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Gender detection: AI improves processing efficiency and product consistency by accurately segregating carcasses based on gender. This is crucial for producing the best quality output from the&nbsp;M-Line robots&nbsp;in pork evisceration.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Pelvic bone detection: In the&nbsp;DeboFlex&nbsp;Primal Cut system, AI models detect the pelvic bone with precision, optimizing cutting processes to reduce waste and enhance yield.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Shoulder blade detection: AI helps accurately identify and cut around the shoulder blade, improving the final product's quality.</li> </ul> <p style="font-weight: 400;">These trends indicate a broad move towards leveraging AI to not only improve operational efficiencies but also to enhance sustainability and product quality across the meat processing industry.</p> <p><strong>Standardizing AI across Marel</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Anton Hei&eth;ar &THORN;&oacute;r&oacute;lfsson, AI team manager at Marel, emphasizes the importance of standardizing AI applications across the company: &ldquo;Initially, various innovation teams independently developed AI solutions. Now, the AI team aims to unify these efforts to ensure consistent and efficient AI integration across all Marel solutions. This standardization helps us deliver reliable, high-performing solutions tailored to your needs.&rdquo;</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Anton also highlights our use of advanced imaging technologies: &ldquo;We utilize x-ray and hyperspectral imaging to see beyond what people can see, processing this data with AI to enhance precision and insight in our operations.&rdquo;</p> <p><strong>AI in primary cattle and pork processing</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Many processors have asked how they can leverage AI in their operations. Pulkit Vijay, an Innovation Manager at Marel, shares: &ldquo;We use AI in vision systems for different applications like&nbsp;grading, conformation, fat class, sex detection, back fat thickness, and primal lengths and widths. For primary cattle processing, we use AI to cross-check measurements and define areas for these measurements using deep learning technologies like Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN). Our AI models are trained with thousands of images to make accurate decisions and predictions, providing you with reliable and efficient processing.&rdquo;</p> <p><strong>Digitalization and AI projects at Marel</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Sander Haverkate, Team Lead Vision Engineering, adds: &ldquo;We are working on various digitalization projects to provide better insights into process data, predictive maintenance, and process bottlenecks using AI. For example, we are developing cloud connections and integrating with AXIN for&nbsp;M-Line, where we see significant potential for AI solutions.&rdquo;</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The first AI features in a Marel machine for sale were implemented in the FleXicut in 2018. Since then, these features have continued to develop and expand. Marel solutions improve product quality and operational efficiency, and ensure more sustainable and profitable processing for your business. We focus on delivering the best technology to meet your needs and exceed your expectations.</p>    Technology adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro 2024-07-10 00:05:16  2025-07-09 16:41:50  Details Edit Delete
7529  QMS highlights whole supply chain approach key to high red meat standards  Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) recently organised a successful knowledge transfer day at Kilmacolm Farm Tours, bringing together almost thirty members of The Scotch Beef Club and The Scotch Butchers’ Club. The event focussed on the unique qualities of Scotch red meat and emphasised the importance of joining up the supply chain, fostering collaboration from farm to table to ensure the highest standards are maintained throughout the entire process.  <p>Chefs across the supply chain - from Buzzworks Life (Scotch Beef Club members and Ayrshire&rsquo;s leading restaurant and bar operator) as well as local Scotch Butchers&rsquo; Club members - were informed on the standards and practices surrounding the farm activity that lies behind the renowned Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork brands.</p> <p>The event, which took place this summer, was kindly hosted by James and Wendy MacDougall of Muirhouse Farm, Kilmacolm who run a farm safari and lambing experience business and have recently ventured into agri-tourism. Attendees enjoyed:</p> <ul> <li>a farm tour to showcase their grass-fed suckler beef herd</li> <li>interesting insights into the MacDougall&rsquo;s breeding programme, genetics, and production methods</li> <li>a discussion with James on their farm practices and methods</li> </ul> <p>QMS Quality Assurance Specialist, Eilidh McCulloch delivered some informative sessions on what is involved in gaining QMS assurance from a farmer&rsquo;s perspective. Eilidh discussed the&nbsp;whole chain quality assurance&nbsp;process that QMS approved farms must go through annually. This included the high standards that encompass animal health and welfare which ensure animals have the best possible quality of life on farms and throughout the live supply chain, resulting in the highest quality product reaching the next step in the chain.</p> <p>Gordon Newlands, Brands Development Manager said:</p> <p>"It was another fantastic day of knowledge sharing, where chefs and butchers alike gained a deeper understanding of whole chain assurance, focused on the quality and standards that go into producing Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb at a farm level. This kind of engagement is crucial for maintaining those high standards that our brands are known for".</p> <p>Following these interactive sessions there was also an opportunity for participants to take part in some hands-on activities. The stock-judging competition gave an ideal opportunity for Scotch Beef Club and Scotch Butchers&rsquo; Club members to discuss carcase specification and how that can affect the end product. There was also a chance for attendees to gain certification for Continued Professional Development (CPD).</p> <p>Laura Black of Cooper Butchers said:</p> <p>"It was a great opportunity for butchers, chefs and apprentices to come together and learn first-hand what it takes to become a QMS assured farmer, gain insight into what it means to have a true grass-fed suckler beef herd and the breeding and genetic methods that go with that.</p> <p>"It was fantastic to hear and learn about their production methods and the stock judging competition brought out the competitiveness in all of us and demonstrated just how difficult it is to judge.</p> <p>"These events are a good chance to support and discuss Scotch red meat, promoting collaboration at all stages of the supply chain and I&rsquo;d like to thank James and Wendy for hosting us on their fabulous farm".</p> <p>The day was perfectly finished off with a barbeque prepared by the UK&rsquo;s No.1 Butcher &ndash; Nigel Ovens from McCaskie&rsquo;s Butcher. Attendees tucked in whilst enjoying the farm&rsquo;s panoramic views of up to 40 miles to Ben Lomond, Glasgow and on to Lanarkshire.</p>    Industry adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro 2024-07-10 00:10:04  2025-07-09 02:07:23  Details Edit Delete
7530  Brazil: Average chicken meat exports indicate positive result for 2024  The average Brazilian chicken meat exports (considering all products, both fresh and processed) in 2024 indicates positive results for the year 2024, according to the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA). According to the comparative analysis, the average exports registered this year were 431.4 thousand tons, 0.8% higher than the average registered for the twelve months of last year, with 428.2 thousand tons.  <p><span lang="DE">In the monthly survey, chicken meat exports in June totaled 435.9 thousand tons, 2.3% lower than the 446.2 thousand tons shipped in the same period last year. Revenue obtained in the period reached US$ 793.6 million, 10.6% lower than the total recorded in June 2023, with US$ 887.5 million.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">In the analysis of the semester, chicken meat exports totaled 2,588 million tons so far, a figure 1.6% lower than the total recorded in the first six months of 2023, with 2,629 million tons. The accumulated revenue in the period reached US$4,636 billion, a balance 10.3% lower than that accumulated in the previous year, with US$5,168 billion.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"The slightly negative fluctuation in comparative shipments in June is not enough to compromise the positive momentum experienced by chicken meat exports. The fact that the average for the first half of the year exceeds the general average for 2023, combined with the fact that the second half of the year is traditionally the best period for exports, point to new positive results for the year 2024", highlights the president of ABPA, Ricardo Santin.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">According to the survey, China, the main export destination, imported 276.1 thousand tons in the first half of the year, a figure 29% lower than the total recorded in the same period last year. Next are the United Arab Emirates, with 240.1 thousand tons (+20%), Japan, with 214.2 thousand tons (-3%) and Saudi Arabia, with 206 thousand tons (+17%).</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">In the survey by state, Paran&aacute; remains the main exporter, with 1,076 million tons exported in the first half of this year, a number 1.1% lower than that recorded in 2023. Next are Santa Catarina, with 563.6 thousand tons (+3.4%) , Rio Grande do Sul, with 354.3 thousand tons (-4.74%), S&atilde;o Paulo, with 136.9 thousand tons (-9.4%) and Goi&aacute;s, with 125.7 thousand tons (+4.6%).</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"It is worth highlighting the positive increase in volumes destined for Latin American countries in recent months, at a time when Brazil's main competitor in the international market, the United States, has seen a significant reduction in its exports. This has allowed Brazil to replace itself in strategic markets for products such as chicken legs and breasts, helping to ensure food security for its trading partners. In turn, Middle Eastern countries maintain a high demand for Brazilian products", commented ABPA's market director, Luis Rua.</span></p>    Market adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro 2024-07-10 00:15:24  2025-07-09 17:57:47  Details Edit Delete
7531  Feed Your Family for Less with British Pork campaign returns  Research shows that AHDB pork marketing campaigns have successfully shifted consumer perceptions, presenting British pork as a healthy, versatile and affordable meal option.  <p style="font-weight: 400;">Evaluation of the campaign showed a significant increase in key attitudinal measures and a 6% increase in purchase intent, which takes it to its highest level in four years.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">A &pound;10.05 return in sales was reported for every &pound;1 of levy money invested in advertising. This equates to an additional &pound;9.6m in retail sales &ndash; that&rsquo;s 1,331 tonnes* more pork into shoppers&rsquo; baskets.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The campaign also brought in 173K incremental buyers, increasing household penetration from 25.9 million to 26.1 million households. </p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Following this success,&nbsp;we are&nbsp;delighted to announce the return of the highly successful&nbsp;Feed Your Family for Less with British Pork&nbsp;campaign.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Through this campaign, AHDB aims to inspire families to view British pork as an affordable, tasty and healthy choice that can be used in lots of different dishes.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Running from 5 July until 31 July, the campaign will be featured across social media, YouTube and in seven major supermarket chains.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Delicious and budget-friendly recipes: The campaign will showcase recipes using cuts such as 5% fat mince, loin steaks and fillet, all under &pound;1.50 per portion.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Featured recipes include Mexican-style pork burgers, creamy lemon pork pasta, and Korean-style pork mince bowl, ideal for summer meals.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Widespread social media presence: Bright, eye-catching adverts featuring easy pork recipes will be promoted via social media on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">These will also be available in the&nbsp;<u>Healthy Pork Recipes</u>&nbsp;collection&nbsp;on the Love Pork website.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">YouTube: The popular&nbsp;TV advert&nbsp;highlighting the versatility and value of pork dishes will be promoted on YouTube to reach a broad audience.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Supermarkets: The campaign will be seen in seven supermarket chains, with on-pack stickers featuring QR codes, tear-off recipe sheets, floor vinyls and flags to encourage shoppers to choose British pork.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The 'Love Pork Student Staples: Healthy Eats' recipe videos, created with&nbsp;Tasty UK, will again target the younger Gen Z audience (18&ndash;25-year-olds) via Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">These videos, featuring food and fitness influencer Lucy Kent, effectively demonstrate quick, easy and healthy pork recipes for busy and budget-conscious students through bespoke content that is targeted specifically at this younger audience.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">AHDB head of marketing Carrie McDermid said:</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"We know from the last campaign burst that the messages landed well and the advertising inspired consumers to choose pork. With the majority of people still very concerned about the cost of living, the campaign demonstrates the great value of British pork and positions it as a tasty and nutritious meat than can be used in lots of different meals.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"This latest burst of advertising continues with these messages, keeping British pork front of mind and hoping to win some plate-share from chicken".</p>    Retail adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro 2024-07-10 00:20:11  2025-07-09 09:04:54  Details Edit Delete
7532  USMEF: May beef export value highest in 11 months  The value of U.S. beef exports topped $900 million in May, the highest since June 2023, according to data released by USDA and compiled by USMEF.  <p>May beef exports totaled 110,133 metric tons (mt), down 5% from a year ago but the second largest of 2024. Beef export value reached $902.4 million in May, 3% above last year and the highest in 11 months. For January through May, beef exports followed a similar trend, increasing 5% year-over-year in value to $4.29 billion, despite a 4% decline in volume (533,578 mt).&nbsp;</p> <p>"It has been encouraging to see demand stabilize in Japan, where U.S. beef certainly faces significant headwinds", said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. "The tourism boom has provided a much-needed lift for Japan&rsquo;s foodservice sector, and it is a source of optimism for buyers and importers. Taiwan and the ASEAN region were also bright spots for U.S. beef in May, along with Western Hemisphere markets such as Mexico, Guatemala and the Caribbean".&nbsp;</p> <p>Despite the persistently weak yen and other economic challenges, Japan has maintained its position as the leading volume destination for U.S. beef in 2024. May beef exports to Japan were just under 21,000 mt, up 9% from a year ago, while export value climbed 20% to $164.1 million. For January through May, exports to Japan were still 3% below last year in volume (104,712 mt), but export value increased 5% to $796.8 million.</p> <p>The weak yen&rsquo;s silver lining is that it has contributed to a surge in foreign visitors, bolstering Japan&rsquo;s foodservice and hospitality sectors. Tourists arriving in Japan in May jumped 60% from a year ago and topped 3 million for the third consecutive month. Tourism officials project that total arrivals this year could surpass the 2019 record of 31.88 million.&nbsp;</p> <p>Demand for U.S. beef in Mexico continues to gain momentum, with May exports increasing 9% from a year ago to 18,793 mt, while value climbed 17% to $109.8 million. Through May, exports to Mexico increased 17% to 96,323 mt, while value soared 23% to $564 million. This included more than 50,000 mt of beef variety meat, up 19% from a year ago, valued at $136.6 million (up 13%). Mexico is the largest volume destination for U.S. beef variety meat, taking large volumes of tripe, lips, livers, hearts and kidneys.&nbsp;</p> <p>Beef shipments to Taiwan have trended lower in 2024, but May saw a substantial rebound in export value at $63.2 million, up 6% from a year ago and the highest since August. May volume was 5,878 mt, down 4% year-over-year. For January through May, exports to Taiwan were down 12% from a year ago to 23,392 mt, but value slipped just 2% to $254.7 million. Despite a widening spread in the price of U.S. beef versus major competitors, the U.S. continues to dominate Taiwan&rsquo;s chilled beef sector, capturing about 70% market share.</p> <p>Other January-May results for U.S. beef exports include:&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>May beef exports to the ASEAN region reached 4,646 mt, up 25% from a year ago and the largest since October. Shipments to Indonesia (1,823 mt) were the largest since October, to Vietnam (585 mt) were the highest since January 2023, and to Singapore (587 mt) were the largest since 2010 and the third highest on record. Shipments to the Philippines (1,457 mt) slowed from the previous month but were otherwise the highest since October. May exports to the region were valued at $40.6 million, up 81% year-over-year and the seventh largest on record. January-May exports increased 18% in value to just under $125 million, despite a 17% decline in volume (14,977 mt).&nbsp;</li> <li>Fueled by record-large shipments of more than 1,100 mt to Guatemala and strong demand in Panama, May beef exports to Central America increased 37% from a year ago to 1,972 mt, valued at $13.6 million (up 45%). Through May, exports to the region climbed 12% in volume (9,464 mt) and 17% in value ($68 million).&nbsp;</li> <li>May beef exports to China/Hong Kong slowed compared to last year, falling 16% to 18,659 mt. But export value was down just 4% to $181.3 million and export value to China alone was only 2% below last year at $146 million. January-May exports to the region were down 10% to 88,446 mt. Export value was 4% below last year at $821 million, but is still on pace to approach $2 billion in 2024.&nbsp;</li> <li>Demand for U.S. beef continues to regain momentum in the Middle East, where May exports increased 19% from a year ago to 4,481 mt, while export value climbed 26% to $19.8 million. Through May, exports to the region increased 33% in volume (23,925 mt) and 35% in value ($106.3 million), bolstered by larger beef liver shipments to Egypt and robust demand for muscle cuts in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li> <li>Larger shipments to the Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba, Jamaica and the Bahamas pushed May beef exports to the Caribbean to 2,846 mt, up 39% from a year ago, while export value increased 7% to $22.5 million. January-May exports to the region increased 27% to 14,774 mt, valued at $121.8 million (up 13%).&nbsp;</li> <li>Beef exports to leading value market Korea slowed in May, falling 24% from a year ago to 18,063 mt, valued at $168 million (down 14%). Through May, exports to Korea were 14% below last year&rsquo;s pace at 96,960 mt, but still increased slightly in value ($908.1 million, up 1%).&nbsp;</li> <li>Export value equated to $410.94 per head of fed slaughter in May, up 3% from a year ago. The January-May per-head average was $410.40, up 5%. Exports accounted for 13.8% of total May beef production, and 11.5% for muscle cuts only &ndash; down from 14.7% and 12.1%, respectively, a year ago. The January-May ratios were 13.9% of total production and 11.6% for muscle cuts, each down about one-half percentage point from the same period last year.</li> </ul>    Market adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro 2024-07-10 00:25:39  2025-07-09 11:07:00  Details Edit Delete
7533  INTERPORC presents its successful strategy to support the internationalization of the sector  INTERPORC presents its successful strategy to support the internationalization of the sector  <p>The Spanish Interprofessional INTERPORC has participated in a conference organized by the Business Federation of Meat and Meat Industries (FECIC) aimed at its exporting companies. There, its International Director, Daniel de Miguel, has presented the main figures that define the situation of the Spanish pig sector abroad.</p> <p>During his speech, De Miguel analysed the evolution of Spanish exports from the pork sector, and highlighted that in the last decade &ldquo;it has been a world reference thanks to its ability to diversify its sales and be present in 130 international markets, positioning a wide variety of meat products&rdquo;.</p> <p>On a closer look, sales to the European Union have increased by 29.5% in the last three years, from 1.11 million tonnes in 2020 to 1.45 million tonnes in 2023, consolidating its leadership as a supplier of pork products in Europe.<br />In terms of the current situation, in the first third of 2024, exports have increased slightly by 0.6% in volume (932,000 tonnes), with a small decline of 0.3% in value (2.9 billion euros). In the case of China, exports have decreased by 14% in volume, although that country remains the main customer of Spanish pork, receiving 18% of the sector's exports. Italy, France, Japan, the Philippines and Poland are the next largest buyers in volume.</p> <p>De Miguel stressed that the data confirm Spain as a world power in pork. A situation to which the quality and food safety guarantee of its products, as well as the actions carried out by INTERPORC in terms of internationalisation, have contributed decisively, mainly aimed at "boosting knowledge of the pork sector and its products in markets of interest such as China, Japan, the USA, the Philippines, South Korea, Vietnam or Mexico, among others".</p> <p>He also explained that "we work on actions that promote the marketing of the different products in the sector and we develop various support actions for the Administration for the opening of new markets, providing logistical support for audits in third countries."<br />During the day, the main current issues of Spanish meat foreign trade were put on the table for analysis and debate: the current situation of negotiations for the opening of new markets (countries and/or products), border controls and export certification procedures, a balance of the latest inspection visits from third countries and upcoming ones planned, or international communication and promotion actions being carried out by the Interprofessional Associations of white pork and beef in target markets.</p>    Market adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro 2024-07-10 10:37:26  2025-07-09 10:12:36  Details Edit Delete
7534  Denmark’s radical methane tax hits farmers  After months of negotiations with farmers and livestock farming organisations, the Danish government will introduce Europe’s first carbon tax on agriculture.  <p><span lang="DE">Denmark, a major exporter of pork and dairy products,&nbsp;will charge farmers for their livestock emissions starting in 2030. The Nordic country will be&nbsp;the first to tax livestock emissions&nbsp;to reduce methane emissions: 120 Danish kroner&nbsp;(about &euro;16) per tonne of CO2 emissions&nbsp;will be charged to begin with, going up to 300 Danish kroner&nbsp;(about &euro;40) in 2035. According to the government, this environmental reform aims to reduce Danish emissions by 1.8 million tonnes of CO2 in 2030, closing the gap towards the&nbsp;2030 climate target.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Danish meat</span><span lang="DE">&nbsp;has been considered by many as some of the world&rsquo;s best, resulting from&nbsp;highly efficient and sustainable farming practices&nbsp;in Europe. However, Danish politicians are apparently unaware that&nbsp;methane emissions from sources such as landfills and oil and natural gas systems are higher than those from livestock. The press has quoted&nbsp;Foreign Minister&nbsp;</span><span lang="DE">Lars Lokke Rasmussen</span><span lang="DE">&nbsp;as saying: &ldquo;With today&rsquo;s agreement, we will be the first country in the world to introduce a real tax on CO2 in agriculture.&rdquo; And&nbsp;</span><span lang="DE">Nicolai Wammen</span><span lang="DE">, the country&rsquo;s finance minister is reported to have said: "We are investing in the future of our agricultural sector, starting a transition with shared ambitions and goals, and laying the foundations for what our country will look like in five, ten- and twenty years. We know that a&nbsp;carbon tax&nbsp;model that covers all sectors offers us the lowest overall social cost. What we have done now, from industry to agriculture, shows us that&nbsp;an ambitious green transition&nbsp;is possible".</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Stephanie Lose</span><span lang="DE">, economy minister, has also added: "With the&nbsp;Green tripartite agreement, we set a clear green direction for&nbsp;the future of Danish agriculture. We create a framework for a more sustainable, high-tech and efficient agricultural production, which ensures a green transition. It has not been an easy task, but I am proud that we have once again shown that we&nbsp;in Denmark can sit down and listen to each other and together find solutions to the great challenges facing our good country. I would like to thank the parties in the green tripartite for their great work, seriousness and trusting cooperation over the past many months. This has created the foundation for us to ultimately succeed in making an agreement that all parties can see themselves in".</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">A&nbsp;Greenpeace&nbsp;spokesman is quoted as remarking that although the new deal is &ldquo;far from perfect&rdquo;, it is a "world-first" CO2 emissions tax on agriculture, and its meaning should be recognised as&nbsp;a "significant milestone".&nbsp;Martin Damm, the National Association of Municipalities chairman, said that the agreement is ambitious, and that municipalities were ready to take the lead. He noted that municipalities know the landowners and the local conditions best, and that is was their task to be&nbsp;responsible&nbsp;for the local transformation, and ensure there is room for both agriculture and nature.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Denmark is not the first to take the route of&nbsp;taxing livestock emissions&nbsp;as in 2022&nbsp;New Zealand&nbsp;unveiled a strategy to curb greenhouse gases and transition to a low-emissions future in an emissions reduction plan, but a&nbsp;change in government soon scrapped the so-called&nbsp;</span><span lang="DE">burp tax</span><span lang="DE">.&nbsp;Ireland has also debated a tax&nbsp;and but has so far just developed the&nbsp;Agriculture Navigator (AgNav) platform, which aims to guide Irish farmers towards emissions reductions efforts by helping them collect specific emissions data from their farms.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">What remains to be seen is how farmers, protagonists of lively tractor protests across Europe, will react.&nbsp;As reported by CNN, Danish farmers&rsquo; association&nbsp;B&aelig;redygtigt Landbrug&nbsp;said the measures amounted to&nbsp;a "frightening experiment". "We recognise that there is a climate problem&hellip; But we don&rsquo;t think this agreement will solve the problems, because it will throw a spanner in the works".</span></p>    Market adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro 2024-07-11 00:05:00  2025-07-09 06:27:59  Details Edit Delete
7535  MIA: Positive results for red meat exports  North America remained New Zealand’s largest red meat market during May with beef and sheepmeat exports to nearly all major markets increasing year-on-year, according to an analysis by the Meat Industry Association (MIA).  <p><span lang="DE">New Zealand exported red meat products worth $1.1 billion for the month, three per cent up on May 2024. The most significant growth was in beef exports, up five per cent in volume and nine per cent by value.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Overall exports included $358 million to the United States, up 28 per cent. May was a record month for the value of beef exports to the US.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Exports to Japan rose 96 per cent to $72 million and the UK was up 51 per cent to $62 million.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">China was the second largest market with exports of $232 million. This is 42 per cent down from last May.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">MIA chief executive Sirma Karapeeva said it was encouraging to see some green shoots for the sector, supporting the Ministry for Primary Industries&rsquo; recently released Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries (SOPI) forecast that trade will see a strong recovery in 2025.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"While the China market is still soft, the ability to shift products to other markets such as the US means companies are continuing to extract the best value for product under the current global conditions.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"The industry&rsquo;s strong focus on meeting critical market access requirements and customer needs remains key to keeping the door open for New&nbsp;Zealand to the world including the US market.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"The free on board (FoB) value of beef exports to the US has been steadily increasing this year, from $8.33/kg in January to $10.48/kg in May. This is good news for the industry and our farmers.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"The increased beef exports to Japan and the UK demonstrate the value of free trade agreements as reduced tariffs improve the competitiveness of our products".</span></p> <p><strong><span lang="DE">Sheepmeat</span></strong></p> <p><span lang="DE">Sheepmeat exports totalled 39,232 tonnes,&nbsp; a small one per cent drop on last May, with value down five per cent to $387 million.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">This was mainly due to the decline in exports to China, down by one per cent by volume to 15,499 tonnes and 49 per cent by value to $84 million.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">This appears to be due to weak demand rather than an increase in supply from other exporters, as Australian sheepmeat exports to China have also been down over the last three months compared to last year.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Sheepmeat exports to most other major markets increased, compared to May 2023, with the US up 66 per cent by volume to 3,568 tonnes and 31 per cent by value to $66 million.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Exports to the UK continued to recover, up 40 per cent by volume, to 5,392 tonnes and 34 per cent by value to $51 million.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Exports to the EU were also strong, up 23 per cent by volume to 7,085 tonnes and 15 per cent by value to&nbsp; $113 million.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">The US led the way with the highest FoB value for sheepmeat at $18.39/kg. This was followed by the EU at $15.95/kg, the UK at $9.44/kg and China at $5.43/kg.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">While the volume of sheepmeat to China was significantly greater, the higher value achieved in the US saw the two markets relatively close, with China accounting for 22 per cent of sheepmeat exports by value and the US 17 per cent.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><strong><span lang="DE">Beef</span></strong></p> <p><span lang="DE">Beef exports totalled&nbsp;55,498 tonnes worth $524m. The US was the largest market for the month, with the volume up 17 per cent to 24,929 tonnes and 31 per cent by value to $261m. Exports to Canada also continued to grow, up 177 per cent to 2,184 tonnes and 197 per cent to $20 million.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">There was also a record monthly volume of beef exported to Japan, totalling 5,533 tonnes, up 164 per cent on last May, with value up 151 per cent to $55 million. Demand is being supported by high tourism numbers to Japan, with inbound visitors topping three million during April.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Volume to China was down 33 per cent to 14,387 tonnes and 45 per cent by volume to $98 million. The EU also accounted for 712 tonnes worth $13.8 million.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><strong><span lang="DE">Fifth quarter</span></strong></p> <p><span lang="DE">Fifth quarter exports increased by six per cent to $198 million for the month. The most significant change from last May was a 174 per cent increase in the value of tallow exports to $30 million.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Almost 70 per cent of these exports were to Singapore, where tallow is used as an ingredient in bio-fuel manufacturing. These tallow exports also pushed Singapore up into the top 10 overall markets for the month.</span></p>    Market adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro 2024-07-11 00:10:49  2025-07-08 18:48:14  Details Edit Delete
7536  Brazil: The best half-year results for beef exports in history  Brazil achieved the best first-half result ever observed in the history of beef exports. Data from the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services (MDIC) were compiled and analyzed by the Brazilian Association of Meat Exporting Industries (Abiec).   <p style="font-weight: 400;">According to the report, in the first half of 2024, beef exports totaled 1.29 million tons, an increase of 27.3% compared to the same period in 2023 (1.019 million tons), which resulted in revenue of US$ 5.69 billion - an increase of 17%, compared to the first half of 2023 -, a value surpassed only in 2022, when first-half results totaled more than US$ 6.19 billion, in a pandemic scenario.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">In June 2024, exports totaled 220,184 tons, generating US$ 953.09 million, a slightly lower result than in the previous two months, when a record number of shipments was recorded.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Asian countries accounted for 52% of the Brazilian beef market in the first half of the year. The largest markets by region were the Middle East and North Africa, which accounted for 20.8% of the total. This region saw the largest increases in Brazilian beef shipments in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. There was a 91% increase in total shipments, totaling 120,000 more tons exported this year.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">North and Latin America were the destination for 15.7% of exports, followed by Europe and Central Asia, which accounted for 10.2% of all beef sold by Brazil. Exports to these regions grew by 25% and 43% in volume, respectively. For Sub-Saharan Africa, growth was 25.6%, with 4,000 tons more in the first six months of the year.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Results of Brazilian beef exports in the first half of the last few years:</p> <table style="font-weight: 400; width: 597px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 182px; text-align: center;"> <p><strong>Year</strong></p> </td> <td style="width: 210.667px; text-align: center;"> <p><strong>US$ &ndash; thousand</strong></p> </td> <td style="width: 177.333px; text-align: center;"> <p><strong>Tons</strong></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 182px; text-align: center;"> <p>2020</p> </td> <td style="width: 210.667px; text-align: center;"> <p>3,918,591</p> </td> <td style="width: 177.333px; text-align: center;"> <p>907,943</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 182px; text-align: center;"> <p>2021</p> </td> <td style="width: 210.667px; text-align: center;"> <p>4,084,122</p> </td> <td style="width: 177.333px; text-align: center;"> <p>875,169</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 182px; text-align: center;"> <p>2022</p> </td> <td style="width: 210.667px; text-align: center;"> <p>6,193,415</p> </td> <td style="width: 177.333px; text-align: center;"> <p>1,059,111</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 182px; text-align: center;"> <p>2023</p> </td> <td style="width: 210.667px; text-align: center;"> <p>4,865,315</p> </td> <td style="width: 177.333px; text-align: center;"> <p>1,019,345</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 182px; text-align: center;"> <p>2024</p> </td> <td style="width: 210.667px; text-align: center;"> <p>5,691,934</p> </td> <td style="width: 177.333px; text-align: center;"> <p>1,297,973</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Results by country</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The countries that imported the most beef from Brazil in 2024 were: China, which imported 565,654 tons and US$ 2.5 billion, with a 10.2% growth in volume. Next came the United Arab Emirates, which imported almost 95 thousand tons (an increase of 238% compared to the first half of 2023) and US$ 435 million; the United States, with imports of 85,395 tons (an increase of 19.7%) and revenue of US$ 515 million.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">In fourth place is Hong Kong, destination of 61 thousand tons of Brazilian meat (up 10.6%) and revenue of US$ 196 million, followed by Chile (purchases of 48,726 tons &ndash; an increase of 9.4%) and US$ 229 million.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">In the same period, fresh&nbsp;beef&nbsp;accounted for 87.7% of the volume shipped by Brazil (totaling 1.13 million tons). Most of the fresh beef&nbsp;exported&nbsp;by Brazil is boneless, representing 88% of the total. However, access to bone-in beef is still limited in some countries due to the need to change health agreements. The largest market for bone-in beef this year was Malaysia, which purchased 2,168 tons, followed by Paraguay, with 1,542 tons, Morocco (905 tons), Angola (619 tons) and Singapore (467 tons).</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">According to Abiec president Antonio Jorge Camardelli, Brazil remains firmly in the global leadership of beef exports and the sector is working intensively, together with ApexBrasil, to open new markets and consolidate existing ones. &ldquo;Currently, Brazilian beef is already present in 158 markets, but we still have room to penetrate countries such as Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and Turkey, which represent around 25% of the global demand for beef", says Camardelli, who highlighted the various events and other international agendas for promoting the product, through the Brazilian Beef project. For the second half of the year, the Brazilian Beef schedule includes actions such as participation in missions, promotion fairs, congresses and events on the climate and environmental agenda and specific events to promote Brazilian beef.</p>    Market adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro 2024-07-11 00:15:30  2025-07-09 03:39:20  Details Edit Delete
7537  USMEF: May pork exports below last year  Pork exports posted another solid performance in May, but were below last year in both volume and value.   <p>May pork exports totaled 251,447 mt, down 4% from a year ago, valued at $715.8 million (down 2%). Through the first five months of the year, exports were still up 6% to 1.29 million mt, while export value was 7% above last year&rsquo;s record pace at $3.6 billion.&nbsp;</p> <p>"Pork shipments to Mexico trended a bit lower in May, but that&rsquo;s following a record April performance", said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. And even at that, export value to Mexico still topped $200 million. U.S. pork also posted another great month in South Korea and exports to the ASEAN region were the largest in three years. Demand also continued to strengthen in Central America and the Caribbean.</p> <p>Although pork export volume to leading market Mexico slowed in May following record-large April shipments, export value still increased and 2024 demand remains on a record pace. May exports to Mexico totaled 91,338 mt, down 6% from a year ago, but value was 2% higher at $201.9 million. January-May exports to Mexico reached 480,193 mt, up 7% from a year ago, while value increased 14% to $1.02 billion.</p> <p>While Mexico continues to shine as a destination for hams and other pork cuts for further processing, the U.S. industry has made impressive inroads in the country&rsquo;s rapidly growing retail and foodservice sectors, with per-capita pork consumption continuing to expand. Mexico is also a major outlet for U.S. pork variety meat, including for taco applications.</p> <p>Pork exports to Korea posted another robust performance in May, totaling 22,354 mt. This was up 6% from a year ago, while value increased 8% to $78.9 million. Through May, exports to Korea climbed 35% above last year&rsquo;s pace to 118,092 mt, while value soared 40% to $395.4 million. The U.S. industry continues to capitalize on Korean consumers&rsquo; growing appetite for convenient, easy-to-prepare entr&eacute;es and snacks, while U.S. pork is also gaining traction in the foodservice sector.&nbsp;</p> <p>Despite lower shipments to leading market Honduras, May pork exports to Central America increased 11% from a year ago to 11,711 mt, while export value climbed 26% to $37.8 million. May exports to Costa Rica nearly tripled from a year ago, while also gaining strength in Guatemala and El Salvador. January-May exports to the region increased 25% from a year ago to 64,161 mt, while export value soared 35% above last year&rsquo;s record pace to $196.8 million.&nbsp;</p> <p>Other January-May results for U.S. pork exports include:&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>Led by larger shipments to the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam, May pork exports to the ASEAN region reached 9,235 mt, up 41% from a year ago and the largest since May 2021. This included record-large variety meat exports to the Philippines, totaling 4,483 mt. Through May, total pork and pork variety meat exports to the ASEAN increased 17% to 31,715 mt, valued at $67.7 million (up 4%).&nbsp;</li> <li>Pork exports to Colombia remained strong in May, climbing 55% from a year ago to 9,653 mt, while value soared 63% to $26.6 million. January-May exports to Colombia increased 46% to 49,315 mt, a record pace, while value climbed 58% to $135.3 million.&nbsp;</li> <li>Although May exports to Oceania were below last year&rsquo;s large volume, shipments remained robust at 9,353 mt, valued at $32.8 million. With exports expanding to both Australia and New Zealand, January-May shipments to the region increased 64% to 46,574 mt, with value climbing 63% to $165.6 million. While both Australia and New Zealand restrict access for fresh U.S. pork, Oceania is a strong destination for pork cuts used for further processing and the region has a growing appetite for value-added U.S. processed products. &nbsp;&nbsp;</li> <li>May pork exports to Japan held fairly steady with last year at 30,010 mt, while value was down 1% to $121.9 million. January-May shipments to Japan were down slightly to 153,052 mt, with value steady at $618.2 million. Similar to beef, the strong U.S. dollar has hampered Japan&rsquo;s demand for U.S. pork, but Japan is importing more frozen U.S. pork to partially offset the decline in ground seasoned pork and chilled pork. The rise in tourism, declining inventories and still-high prices for European pork offer potential growth opportunities in the second half of the year.&nbsp;</li> <li>May exports of pork variety meat increased slightly from a year ago to 51,957 mt. Export value was also strong at $110.8 million, though down 13% from last May&rsquo;s record high. For January through May, pork variety meat exports climbed 4% above last year to 257,431 mt, but value fell 5% to $557.4 million, mainly on lower unit values for feet, tongues and stomachs. China/Hong Kong is still the top destination for U.S. pork variety meat exports, but growth to Mexico, the ASEAN region, Canada, Central America and Colombia helped offset declining demand from China/Hong Kong.&nbsp;</li> <li>May pork exports equated to $67.64 per head slaughtered, down 2% from a year ago, but the January-May average was still up 5% to $66.54. Exports accounted for 30.7% of total May pork production and 26.2% for muscle cuts only, down from the very high ratios (32% and 27.6%, respectively) posted in May 2023. January-May exports accounted for 30.7% of total production and 26.5% for muscle cuts, each up about one percentage point from the same period last year.&nbsp;</li> </ul>    Retail adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro 2024-07-11 00:20:15  2025-07-09 17:58:57  Details Edit Delete
7539  How demand for transparency is accelerating digital transformation in the seafood industry  The Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) research has revealed that 71% of seafood consumers say origin labelling influences their purchase of seafood. Meanwhile, governments worldwide are legislating for greater transparency and traceability in seafood value chains.  <p style="font-weight: 400;">This pressure is causing the industry to search for innovative ways to ensure seafood&rsquo;s provenance and sustainability. Fortunately, as technologies like&nbsp;<em>IoT</em>&nbsp;(Internet of Things),&nbsp;<em>UAVs</em>&nbsp;(Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) and&nbsp;<em>AI</em>&nbsp;(Artificial Intelligence) mature, they&rsquo;re offering transformative applications. This is resulting in the seafood industry&rsquo;s digital transformation - from sea to plate.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">In this article we explore the trends and pressures driving digital transformation in the seafood sector. We also spotlight some of the latest innovations, which are improving efficiency, traceability and transparency across the value chain.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Rising concerns about seafood provenance and sustainability</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Sustainability has come into sharp focus in recent years as feeding the world&rsquo;s growing population ascends the public agenda. This, and concerns for the environment, animal welfare and unethical labour practices, are causing consumers to take more interest in where and how their seafood is sourced. Meanwhile, global, regional and national legislation is catalysing a shift towards responsible and sustainable practices across the value chain.</p> <h3>Sustainable seafood is vital for food security</h3> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Global research organisation,&nbsp;WorldFish, has highlighted the benefits of sustainable ocean food systems in providing livelihoods and nutrition, arguing global food systems can achieve negative emissions by 2050.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">At COP28 in Dubai, campaigners highlighted the potential for aquatic food systems to feed the growing global population. This illustrates growing recognition for seafood as a valuable protein, plus the importance of effective fish stocks management to safeguard its availability for future generations.</p> <h3>Provenance &amp; sustainability influence purchases</h3> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Thanks to campaigners and media interest, consumers are aware of the impact of their choices. So they&rsquo;re asking more questions and making conscious decisions to support sustainable and ethically sourced seafood.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The NSC spoke to 18,000 seafood consumers worldwide, and 71% agreed origin labelling affected their seafood purchases. Many are willing to pay a premium for sustainability too, with more than 4 in 10 saying they'll pay more for sustainable fish or seafood.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">This highlights opportunities for retailers, distributors and producers to improve and communicate traceability, raising sustainable seafood&rsquo;s value as a result.</p> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3>Legislation is pushing for transparency</h3> <p style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Uni-lateral agreements and legislation are accelerating the move towards responsible and sustainable practices. Through initiatives such as the&nbsp;<em>Port State Measures Agreement</em>&nbsp;(PSMA), the&nbsp;<em>FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Catch Documentation Schemes</em>&nbsp;(CDS), and national regulations like the&nbsp;EU's&nbsp;<em>Common Fisheries Policy</em>&nbsp;(CFP) and U.S.&nbsp;<em>Seafood Traceability Rule</em>, governments are setting standards and requirements for documenting and tracking seafood. In turn, seafood producers, processors, and retailers are complying through implementing robust systems that record catch data and verify origin.</p> <h3>Digital technologies transforming the value chain</h3> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Fortunately, groundbreaking technologies are maturing and being adopted across the seafood value chain. From harvesting to production and distribution, to understanding and predicting consumer preferences.</p> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li><strong>Amphibious drones</strong>&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;<strong>AI</strong>&nbsp;preserving ecosystems and eliminating the guesswork in seafood harvesting.</li> <li><strong>Robots</strong>,&nbsp;<strong>drones</strong>,&nbsp;<strong>IoT</strong>&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;<strong>machine learning</strong>&nbsp;improving efficiency and decision-making in aquaculture.</li> <li><strong>Trading platforms</strong>&nbsp;mimimising waste and transaction costs through simplified buying and selling.</li> <li>Retailers creating immersive "phygital" experiences with&nbsp;<strong>QR codes</strong>,&nbsp;<strong>robot shoppers</strong>&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;<strong>mobile payments</strong>.</li> </ul> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><em>&lsquo;&lsquo;Fishing is, of course, absolutely possible without using AI. But the increased knowledge means we will be able to make better decisions, both for the environment and the business.&lsquo;&lsquo;</em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Anette Gr&oslash;ttland Zimowski</span></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Chief marketing and communications officer at Ava Ocean</p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Precision harvesting: scallops to sea urchins</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wild seafood is traditionally harvested through dredging, which causes lasting damage to the seabed. So when the Norwegian government banned dredging in 1993,&nbsp;Ava Ocean&rsquo;s&nbsp;scallop fishery was forced to close until they could come up with a new approach.</span></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Today, the scallop fishery is thriving, having shown regulators the value of its state-of-the-art amphibious drone: the "Ava Ray". Using innovative non-invasive technology, this is successfully reducing the guesswork in harvesting as well as the environmental impact of scallop harvesting.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">According to Anette Gr&oslash;ttland Zimowski, chief marketing and communications officer at Ava Ocean, the Ava Ray is:</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"unlike any other fishing gear in use today, [it means you know] exactly what you harvest, where you harvest.&rdquo;</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Scallops are part of a diverse ecosystem on the seabed called the benthic zone. Dredging disturbs its vital biodiversity, leading to damage, which has wide-ranging effects on surrounding sea life. To avoid this, the "Ava Ray" seabed harvester gently hovers above the seabed, plucking seafood using a precision water flow system to efficiently lift its target. Ava Ocean&rsquo;s advancements are not just about technology but also a shift in mindset.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;The focus for [previous] technological improvements have been mainly geared towards improving efficiency. It is only in recent years that environmental and ecosystem impacts have started to become a consideration to R&amp;D in the industry.&rdquo;</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;Fishing is, of course, absolutely possible without using AI. But the increased knowledge means we will be able to make better decisions, both for the environment and the business.&rdquo;</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Keen to continue reducing its environmental impact, Ava Ocean works closely with marine scientists.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;We still know so little about the intricate workings of the habitats we harvest from, and it will take time and research to begin to truly understand the impact of doing anything on the seabed, even with our gentle harvesting method.&rdquo;</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Ava Ocean is applying the technology in other locations for seafoods like sea urchins and sea cucumber. It has also received government funding to harvest an overgrowth of sea urchins in Northern Norway. The goal? Revitalise lost kelp forests and develop new products from the urchins gathered.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">When asked whether Ava Ocean&rsquo;s sustainability credentials are important to their customers, Zimowski explains that although sustainability and traceability are becoming more important, price and supply remain a big draw.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;With a world in financial turmoil, price and availability continues to be of critical importance to most buyers. Many consumers will still pay for superior quality and the knowledge that the food on their plate does not come from environmentally harmful fisheries, but it is a crowded space with a lot of tall tales and unsubstantiated claims.&rdquo;</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">This makes education even more important; she says,</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"Even if they are environmentally conscious, most people have no idea how scallops are traditionally caught, or how harmful dredging is to seabed habitats. So, the job starts there, working with our customers B2B to educate and inspire.&rdquo;</p> <h2>Improving welfare &amp; efficiency in aquaculture</h2> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Aquaculture is vital if the industry is to meet demand for sustainable seafood. Fortunately, a raft of technologies is helping to streamline operations and maximise yield for aquaculture farmers.</p> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li><strong>REMOTE MONITORING:</strong>&nbsp;In a sector where growth takes place out-of-sight and underwater, IoT supports &lsquo;smart fish farming&rsquo;, enabling farmers to optimise operations and safeguard the welfare of their fish. Farmers are notified when anomalies or emergencies occur, leading to improved efficiency and productivity plus reduced labour and operational costs.</li> <li><strong>ROBOTICS AND AUTOMATION:</strong>&nbsp;Robotics and automation can improve speed, accuracy and quality in aquaculture. Adapting to different types and sizes of fish, robots skilfully and hygienically fillet, sort, grade and package fish; with minimal human involvement. As well as reducing labour costs and energy consumption, this can increase safety and profitability.</li> <li><strong>DRONES IN FISHERIES:</strong>&nbsp;Drones have become a valuable tool in fisheries management. Employed for surveillance, they allow authorities to monitor fishing activities and enforce regulations. Drones are also used for fish-stock assessment, providing valuable data on population size, migration patterns and habitat conditions, while playing a crucial role in monitoring illegal fishing activities and aiding in the conservation and protection of marine resources &ndash; particularly at offshore sites, high-risk or difficult to access locations.</li> </ul> <h2>Trading platforms reducing seafood waste and improving traceability</h2> <p style="font-weight: 400;">One in three fish caught is never eaten, according to tech firm&nbsp;Rooser. To address this, the Edinburgh-based firm has created a seafood-trading platform for Europe&rsquo;s 140,000+ seafood buyers and sellers.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Enabling faster, more transparent buying and selling of seafood, the platform helps to reduce waste. And as the company scales globally, it has plans to improve traceability, through using the data to accurately track the carbon footprint of each piece of fish.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">This data could then be used by governments to better manage fish stocks, says Wired magazine, describing Rooser as having the potential to "become the Google Maps for the fishing industry."</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><em>As QR codes replace barcodes, there&rsquo;s a huge opportunity to educate consumers about every detail: from country &ndash; or even square mile &ndash; of origin, to what the fish was raised on and how you might like to cook it.</em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kjetil Hestad</span></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Director of aquaculture and market access, Sjoematbedriftene</p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">How retail is embracing digital</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Retailers are embracing technology to improve productivity and boost customer experience. AI crunches valuable data on consumer behaviour, enabling them to predict demand and streamline inventories.</span></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">A handful of retailers are using algorithms to inform product development, optimise pricing and improve personalisation. And several pioneers are creating immersive &lsquo;phygital&rsquo; shopping experiences.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">But with innovations like QR codes in their infancy, seafood distributors say consumer education is vital to encourage adoption.</p> <p><strong>The smartest smart stores</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">In China&rsquo;s Hema Fresh, smart technology means customers can scan QR codes on products to get more information &ndash; including when food items were harvested, where they were sourced from and when they were delivered to the store. With a strong emphasis on domestic produce, this system also highlights locally sourced credentials.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Payment can be made through the Hema app, while the in-store dining experience &ndash; staffed by robots &ndash; is a big draw. Customers can use the app to book a seat and order their food, before robots move items from the shelves to the kitchen and deliver meals when they&rsquo;re ready.</p> <p><strong>Maximising the benefits of QR codes</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Some seafood consumers want to know more about the life of their fish before it arrives in their shopping basket. These important, underlying questions can be answered by QR codes.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Kjetil Hestad, director of aquaculture and market access, Sjomatbedriftene says:</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"As QR codes replace barcodes, there&rsquo;s a huge opportunity to educate consumers about every detail: from country &ndash; or even square mile &ndash; of origin, to what the fish was raised on and how you might like to cook it.<br />But this potential is not yet being used to its full potential".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;To pick up your phone and scan a QR code to get that information, to read it and make a decision on whether you take a product or not? That&rsquo;s a time-consuming process &ndash; and one that is certainly off-putting for many consumers.&rdquo;</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Hestad explains that many consumers don&rsquo;t even realise what information is offered through QR codes &ndash; even if it's exactly what they want to know. And this information will become increasingly important as suppliers opt for QR codes to replace product information.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"If it&rsquo;s cheaper for producers to use a QR code instead of printing information on packages, they might start to do that".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">When asked about what the solution is, Hestad says:</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"Consumer education is vital, and it needs to be done joined up and at a large scale at the company and at the organisation level. It&rsquo;s not enough for one company to do this. The only way we can give consumers the opportunity to use QR codes, is to help them understand what these codes are".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;he digital transformation sweeping through the seafood supply chain represents a sea change in how the industry operates.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Driven by environmental sustainability and operational efficiency, these advancements are not just reshaping the landscape of seafood harvesting and aquaculture, but also enhancing end-to-end traceability and transparency in the entire value chain.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">As these digital tools evolve, there&rsquo;s potential to go further, preserving natural environments, ensuring animal welfare, and reducing waste. And with widespread adoption, these technologies can go towards reassuring consumers that they are buying responsibly sourced products.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The journey towards a fully digital supply chain is complex and fraught with challenges. But these potential benefits make this transformation both necessary and inevitable. For the seafood sector, embracing digital innovation is no longer just an option; it will be essential for sustainability and success in the modern marketplace.</p>    Market adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro 0000-00-00 00:00:00  2025-07-09 16:21:58  Details Edit Delete
7540  How demand for transparency is accelerating digital transformation in the seafood industry  The Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) research has revealed that 71% of seafood consumers say origin labelling influences their purchase of seafood. Meanwhile, governments worldwide are legislating for greater transparency and traceability in seafood value chains.  <p style="font-weight: 400;">This pressure is causing the industry to search for innovative ways to ensure seafood&rsquo;s provenance and sustainability. Fortunately, as technologies like&nbsp;IoT&nbsp;(Internet of Things),&nbsp;UAVs&nbsp;(Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) and&nbsp;AI&nbsp;(Artificial Intelligence) mature, they&rsquo;re offering transformative applications. This is resulting in the seafood industry&rsquo;s digital transformation - from sea to plate.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">In this article we explore the trends and pressures driving digital transformation in the seafood sector. We also spotlight some of the latest innovations, which are improving efficiency, traceability and transparency across the value chain.</p> <p><strong>Rising concerns about seafood provenance and sustainability</strong></p> <p>Sustainability has come into sharp focus in recent years as feeding the world&rsquo;s growing population ascends the public agenda. This, and concerns for the environment, animal welfare and unethical labour practices, are causing consumers to take more interest in where and how their seafood is sourced. Meanwhile, global, regional and national legislation is catalysing a shift towards responsible and sustainable practices across the value chain.</p> <p><strong>Sustainable seafood is vital for food security</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Global research organisation,&nbsp;WorldFish, has highlighted the benefits of sustainable ocean food systems in providing livelihoods and nutrition, arguing global food systems can achieve negative emissions by 2050.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">At COP28 in Dubai, campaigners highlighted the potential for aquatic food systems to feed the growing global population. This illustrates growing recognition for seafood as a valuable protein, plus the importance of effective fish stocks management to safeguard its availability for future generations.</p> <p><strong>Provenance &amp; sustainability influence purchases</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Thanks to campaigners and media interest, consumers are aware of the impact of their choices. So they&rsquo;re asking more questions and making conscious decisions to support sustainable and ethically sourced seafood.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The NSC spoke to 18,000 seafood consumers worldwide, and 71% agreed origin labelling affected their seafood purchases. Many are willing to pay a premium for sustainability too, with more than 4 in 10 saying they'll pay more for sustainable fish or seafood.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">This highlights opportunities for retailers, distributors and producers to improve and communicate traceability, raising sustainable seafood&rsquo;s value as a result.</p> <p><strong>Legislation is pushing for transparency</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Uni-lateral agreements and legislation are accelerating the move towards responsible and sustainable practices. Through initiatives such as the&nbsp;Port State Measures Agreement&nbsp;(PSMA), the&nbsp;FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Catch Documentation Schemes&nbsp;(CDS), and national regulations like the&nbsp;EU's&nbsp;Common Fisheries Policy&nbsp;(CFP) and U.S.&nbsp;Seafood Traceability Rule, governments are setting standards and requirements for documenting and tracking seafood. In turn, seafood producers, processors, and retailers are complying through implementing robust systems that record catch data and verify origin.</p> <p><strong>Digital technologies transforming the value chain</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Fortunately, groundbreaking technologies are maturing and being adopted across the seafood value chain. From harvesting to production and distribution, to understanding and predicting consumer preferences.</p> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li><strong>Amphibious drones</strong>&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;<strong>AI</strong>&nbsp;preserving ecosystems and eliminating the guesswork in seafood harvesting.</li> <li><strong>Robots</strong>,&nbsp;<strong>drones</strong>,&nbsp;<strong>IoT</strong>&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;<strong>machine learning</strong>&nbsp;improving efficiency and decision-making in aquaculture.</li> <li><strong>Trading platforms</strong>&nbsp;mimimising waste and transaction costs through simplified buying and selling.</li> <li>Retailers creating immersive "phygital" experiences with&nbsp;<strong>QR codes</strong>,&nbsp;<strong>robot shoppers</strong>&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;<strong>mobile payments</strong>.</li> </ul> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"Fishing is, of course, absolutely possible without using AI. But the increased knowledge means we will be able to make better decisions, both for the environment and the business", said <span style="font-weight: 400;">Anette Gr&oslash;ttland Zimowski,&nbsp;</span>Chief marketing and communications officer at Ava Ocean</p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Precision harvesting: scallops to sea urchins</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wild seafood is traditionally harvested through dredging, which causes lasting damage to the seabed. So when the Norwegian government banned dredging in 1993,&nbsp;Ava Ocean&rsquo;s&nbsp;scallop fishery was forced to close until they could come up with a new approach.</span></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Today, the scallop fishery is thriving, having shown regulators the value of its state-of-the-art amphibious drone: the "Ava Ray". Using innovative non-invasive technology, this is successfully reducing the guesswork in harvesting as well as the environmental impact of scallop harvesting.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">According to Anette Gr&oslash;ttland Zimowski, chief marketing and communications officer at Ava Ocean, the Ava Ray is:&nbsp;"unlike any other fishing gear in use today, [it means you know] exactly what you harvest, where you harvest".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Scallops are part of a diverse ecosystem on the seabed called the benthic zone. Dredging disturbs its vital biodiversity, leading to damage, which has wide-ranging effects on surrounding sea life. To avoid this, the "Ava Ray" seabed harvester gently hovers above the seabed, plucking seafood using a precision water flow system to efficiently lift its target. Ava Ocean&rsquo;s advancements are not just about technology but also a shift in mindset.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"The focus for [previous] technological improvements have been mainly geared towards improving efficiency. It is only in recent years that environmental and ecosystem impacts have started to become a consideration to R&amp;D in the industry".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"Fishing is, of course, absolutely possible without using AI. But the increased knowledge means we will be able to make better decisions, both for the environment and the business".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Keen to continue reducing its environmental impact, Ava Ocean works closely with marine scientists.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"We still know so little about the intricate workings of the habitats we harvest from, and it will take time and research to begin to truly understand the impact of doing anything on the seabed, even with our gentle harvesting method".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Ava Ocean is applying the technology in other locations for seafoods like sea urchins and sea cucumber. It has also received government funding to harvest an overgrowth of sea urchins in Northern Norway. The goal? Revitalise lost kelp forests and develop new products from the urchins gathered.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">When asked whether Ava Ocean&rsquo;s sustainability credentials are important to their customers, Zimowski explains that although sustainability and traceability are becoming more important, price and supply remain a big draw.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"With a world in financial turmoil, price and availability continues to be of critical importance to most buyers. Many consumers will still pay for superior quality and the knowledge that the food on their plate does not come from environmentally harmful fisheries, but it is a crowded space with a lot of tall tales and unsubstantiated claims".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">This makes education even more important; she says,</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"Even if they are environmentally conscious, most people have no idea how scallops are traditionally caught, or how harmful dredging is to seabed habitats. So, the job starts there, working with our customers B2B to educate and inspire".</p> <p><strong>Improving welfare &amp; efficiency in aquaculture</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Aquaculture is vital if the industry is to meet demand for sustainable seafood. Fortunately, a raft of technologies is helping to streamline operations and maximise yield for aquaculture farmers.</p> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li><strong>REMOTE MONITORING:</strong>&nbsp;In a sector where growth takes place out-of-sight and underwater, IoT supports &lsquo;smart fish farming&rsquo;, enabling farmers to optimise operations and safeguard the welfare of their fish. Farmers are notified when anomalies or emergencies occur, leading to improved efficiency and productivity plus reduced labour and operational costs.</li> <li><strong>ROBOTICS AND AUTOMATION:</strong>&nbsp;Robotics and automation can improve speed, accuracy and quality in aquaculture. Adapting to different types and sizes of fish, robots skilfully and hygienically fillet, sort, grade and package fish; with minimal human involvement. As well as reducing labour costs and energy consumption, this can increase safety and profitability.</li> <li><strong>DRONES IN FISHERIES:</strong>&nbsp;Drones have become a valuable tool in fisheries management. Employed for surveillance, they allow authorities to monitor fishing activities and enforce regulations. Drones are also used for fish-stock assessment, providing valuable data on population size, migration patterns and habitat conditions, while playing a crucial role in monitoring illegal fishing activities and aiding in the conservation and protection of marine resources &ndash; particularly at offshore sites, high-risk or difficult to access locations.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Trading platforms reducing seafood waste and improving traceability</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">One in three fish caught is never eaten, according to tech firm&nbsp;Rooser. To address this, the Edinburgh-based firm has created a seafood-trading platform for Europe&rsquo;s 140,000+ seafood buyers and sellers.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Enabling faster, more transparent buying and selling of seafood, the platform helps to reduce waste. And as the company scales globally, it has plans to improve traceability, through using the data to accurately track the carbon footprint of each piece of fish.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">This data could then be used by governments to better manage fish stocks, says Wired magazine, describing Rooser as having the potential to "become the Google Maps for the fishing industry."</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">As QR codes replace barcodes, there&rsquo;s a huge opportunity to educate consumers about every detail: from country &ndash; or even square mile &ndash; of origin, to what the fish was raised on and how you might like to cook it.</p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kjetil Hestad</span></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Director of aquaculture and market access, Sjoematbedriftene</p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">How retail is embracing digital</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Retailers are embracing technology to improve productivity and boost customer experience. AI crunches valuable data on consumer behaviour, enabling them to predict demand and streamline inventories.</span></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">A handful of retailers are using algorithms to inform product development, optimise pricing and improve personalisation. And several pioneers are creating immersive &lsquo;phygital&rsquo; shopping experiences.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">But with innovations like QR codes in their infancy, seafood distributors say consumer education is vital to encourage adoption.</p> <p><strong>The smartest smart stores</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">In China&rsquo;s Hema Fresh, smart technology means customers can scan QR codes on products to get more information &ndash; including when food items were harvested, where they were sourced from and when they were delivered to the store. With a strong emphasis on domestic produce, this system also highlights locally sourced credentials.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Payment can be made through the Hema app, while the in-store dining experience &ndash; staffed by robots &ndash; is a big draw. Customers can use the app to book a seat and order their food, before robots move items from the shelves to the kitchen and deliver meals when they&rsquo;re ready.</p> <p>Maximising the benefits of QR codes</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Some seafood consumers want to know more about the life of their fish before it arrives in their shopping basket. These important, underlying questions can be answered by QR codes.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Kjetil Hestad, director of aquaculture and market access, Sjomatbedriftene says:&nbsp;"As QR codes replace barcodes, there&rsquo;s a huge opportunity to educate consumers about every detail: from country &ndash; or even square mile &ndash; of origin, to what the fish was raised on and how you might like to cook it.<br />But this potential is not yet being used to its full potential".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"To pick up your phone and scan a QR code to get that information, to read it and make a decision on whether you take a product or not? That&rsquo;s a time-consuming process &ndash; and one that is certainly off-putting for many consumers".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Hestad explains that many consumers don&rsquo;t even realise what information is offered through QR codes - even if it's exactly what they want to know. And this information will become increasingly important as suppliers opt for QR codes to replace product information.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"If it&rsquo;s cheaper for producers to use a QR code instead of printing information on packages, they might start to do that".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">When asked about what the solution is, Hestad says:&nbsp;"Consumer education is vital, and it needs to be done joined up and at a large scale at the company and at the organisation level. It&rsquo;s not enough for one company to do this. The only way we can give consumers the opportunity to use QR codes, is to help them understand what these codes are".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The digital transformation sweeping through the seafood supply chain represents a sea change in how the industry operates.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Driven by environmental sustainability and operational efficiency, these advancements are not just reshaping the landscape of seafood harvesting and aquaculture, but also enhancing end-to-end traceability and transparency in the entire value chain.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">As these digital tools evolve, there&rsquo;s potential to go further, preserving natural environments, ensuring animal welfare, and reducing waste. And with widespread adoption, these technologies can go towards reassuring consumers that they are buying responsibly sourced products.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The journey towards a fully digital supply chain is complex and fraught with challenges. But these potential benefits make this transformation both necessary and inevitable. For the seafood sector, embracing digital innovation is no longer just an option; it will be essential for sustainability and success in the modern marketplace.</p>    Market adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro 2024-07-12 00:10:30  2025-07-09 11:01:48  Details Edit Delete
7541  Australia: Beef producers prioritising productivity over profitability  The April 2024 Beef Producer Intentions Survey (BPIS) was designed by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) to support industry with reliable data. The survey runs three times a year and covers producer sentiment and intentions, herd profile, spring and autumn calving, turn-off weights for different producer types and sales-to-date forecast.  <p style="font-weight: 400;">In the current economic environment, input costs from feed costs to council rates are ever-increasing expenses. The BPIS provides industry-first numbers regarding turn-off weights based on producer type.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">There is typically a heavier turn-off weight seen in southern Australia when compared to northern Australia, with variations based on producer type. &nbsp;</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">At a producer level, the average turn-off weight is based on producer type.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Over the next 12 months, it is expected that a large majority of producers will maintain turn-off weights.</p> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>19% of producers will increase turn off weights</li> <li>67% of producers are maintaining turn-off weights</li> <li>12% of producers are reducing turn-off weights.</li> </ul> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Producers are expecting to maintain turn-off weights given the increased input costs which are creating a downward pressure on profit margins. This is leading to a maintenance period for turn-off weights for most producer types.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Despite this, 50% of producers nationally are continuing to fatten cattle until they hit target weight. If producers continue to fatten cattle without considering the growing input costs, there will be a profit margins decrease, forcing producers to sell above market price to break even.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Producers need to consider the cost benefit of continuing to feed animals and the end price received for the animal to evaluate if continuing to feed is cost-effective. &nbsp;</p>    Market adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro 2024-07-12 00:15:25  2025-07-09 12:05:00  Details Edit Delete
7542  Germany: First case of ASF confirmed in Rhineland-Palatinate  African swine fever (ASF) has reached Rhineland-Palatinate for the first time. In Gimbsheim animals suspected of being infected were sampled as part of the search for infected wild boars. The Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) has now confirmed the suspicion of ASF in one of the wild boars, which was found on July 6th. The animal disease control center was immediately put on standby. There is also another suspected case in the Bingen-Mainz district.  <p><span lang="DE">Due to further ASF cases in Hesse, it became necessary to expand the restriction zone. As a result, the city of Mainz and parts of the Mainz-Bingen district as well as the Alzey-Worms district in Rhineland-Palatinate were also affected and the search for wild boar carcasses was expanded there.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">According to the Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy and Mobility in Rhineland-Palatinate, a dead and a dying wild boar were found and samples taken in Gimbsheim in the Alzey-Worms district on July 6 as part of the search for sick wild boars. Since this would be the first case ever in Rhineland-Palatinate, the sample was sent to the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) for confirmation. The FLI's confirmation test for one of the wild boars found on July 6 has now also come back positive. Further searches for wild boar carcasses are currently being carried out with trained search dogs and drones with thermal imaging cameras in the area suspected to be infected.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">The responsible district administration of Alzey-Worms has begun investigations into the wild boars found dead and has called together a group of experts at district level. The wild boars were disposed of safely. The district administrator of the responsible district administration of Alzey-Worms, Heiko Sippel, has put the animal disease control center of the Rheinhessen association on standby. In addition, the district's ASF expert group was called to an extraordinary meeting to assess the situation and the results of the investigation and to determine the first possible measures.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Furthermore, the Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy and Mobility in Rhineland-Palatinate announced that there was another suspected case of ASF following an initial investigation by the State Office of Investigation in a dead wild boar in Oppenheim in the Mainz-Bingen district. This could potentially affect the second district in Rhineland-Palatinate. The district was already within the restriction zone after the first ASF findings in Hesse.</span></p>    Market adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro 2024-07-12 00:20:33  2025-07-08 21:32:16  Details Edit Delete
7543  Argentine resumes beef exports to Egypt  After a four-year pause, Argentine resumes beef exports to Egypt with a first shipment from General Pico, La Pampa.  <p>After a four-year wait, Argentine has restarted beef exports to Egypt. The historic shipment comes from two companies from the General Pico meat processing plant, located in the province of La Pampa.</p> <p>The shipment consists of 20 tons of frozen meat and 20 tons of fat, marking a first step toward greater commercial activity in the near future.</p> <p>The reopening of the Egyptian market for Argentine meat was the result of intense diplomatic negotiations and a health mission that authorized two plants to export halal meat, produced according to Islamic laws.</p> <p>This opening represents a significant opportunity for the Argentine livestock sector, given the potential market represented by Egypt with its 106 million inhabitants and its strategic position between Africa and the Middle East.</p> <p>Alan Lowenstein, owner of the General Pico meat factory, expressed optimism about the future of exports: "This is just the first step towards a substantial increase in trade. Argentine meat has a worldwide reputation and a variety of qualities that will surely appeal to Egyptian consumers".</p> <p>The Argentine ambassador in Cairo, Gonzalo Urriolabeit&iacute;a, highlighted the importance of this reopening for the diversification of bilateral trade between Argentine and Egypt, which already reaches US$2 billion annually with a significant surplus for Argentine.</p>    Market adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro 2024-07-12 00:25:40  2025-07-09 07:20:14  Details Edit Delete
7544  Weak June resulted in a decline in seafood exports in the first half of the year  Norway exported seafood worth NOK 80.6 billion in the first half of the year. This is a decrease of NOK 1.6 billion, or 2 per cent, compared with the same period last year.  <p style="font-weight: 400;">"Although there was no growth in value, the first half of the year was the second best ever in terms of value. Only last year was better. A weak Norwegian krone and high prices for cod and salmon boosted value in the first five months of the year. However, the growth stopped in June, which is largely driven by falling salmon prices", says Christian Chramer, CEO of the Norwegian Seafood Council.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"Despite the downturn, the seafood industry is delivering strong figures with the second-best half-year figures ever. Nevertheless, weakened purchasing power in key markets, lower export volumes and increased competition from other seafood nations is something we must take very seriously, including through our work on market access", says Marianne Sivertsen N&aelig;ss (Ap), Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Historical decline in value</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">In June, seafood exports fell by 18 per cent, or NOK 2.7 billion, compared with the same month last year. This is a historic change. Never has the value of exports fallen by more than NOK 2 billion in a single month.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"Salmon still accounts for 70 per cent of the total value of Norwegian seafood exports, so when the price of fresh whole salmon fell by as much as NOK 31 in June compared with the previous month, it had a major impact on the total value", explains Chramer.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>More demanding situation</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Salmon grew in value for 36 consecutive months before stalling in March this year. In the first half of the year, the value fell by NOK 1.8 billion, or 3 per cent, compared with the same period last year.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"The situation was demanding in the first half of the year. Biological challenges resulted in lower harvesting volumes and a change in product composition towards more fillets. In June, global competition from other producer countries also increased, which had a negative impact on prices. The battle for salmon customers has now really intensified", says Christian Chramer.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Continued weakening of purchasing power</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Demand in the major consumer markets is still characterised by weakened purchasing power.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"Even with lower inflation and the prospect of real wage growth in our key EU market, prices for both food and other goods have risen more than incomes in recent years. Real wages in the EU are not expected to return to 2021 levels until 2025", explains Chramer.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">In addition to lower salmon prices, the first half of the year saw a quota cut for several of Norway's wild-caught species. This has affected the value of cod, king crab, herring and mackerel.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Facts about seafood exports in the first half of the year</strong></p> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>The largest markets for Norwegian seafood exports in the first half of the year were Poland, Denmark and the USA.</li> <li>Canada had the highest value growth, with an increase in export value of NOK 211 million, or 34 per cent, compared with the first half of last year.</li> <li>Exports to Canada totalled 15,457 tonnes, which is 45 per cent higher than in the first half of last year.</li> <li>Seafood was exported to a total of 144 countries in the first half of the year. This is two more than in the first half of last year.</li> </ul> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>These are the 10 largest species in the first half of the year in terms of value</strong></p> <ol style="font-weight: 400;"> <li><strong>Salmon:&nbsp;</strong>NOK 56.3bn (-3%)</li> <li><strong>Cod:&nbsp;</strong>NOK 6.8 billion (-6%)</li> <li><strong>Trout:&nbsp;</strong>NOK 2.9bn (+27%)</li> <li><strong>Saithe:&nbsp;</strong>NOK 1.9bn (-6%)</li> <li><strong>Herring:&nbsp;</strong>NOK 1.7bn (-8%)</li> <li><strong>Mackerel:&nbsp;</strong>NOK 1.6bn (-19%)</li> <li><strong>Haddock:&nbsp;</strong>NOK 1.0bn (+1%)</li> <li><strong>Prawn:&nbsp;</strong>NOK 0.8 billion (+17%)</li> <li><strong>Snow crab:&nbsp;</strong>NOK 0.7bn (+48%)</li> <li><strong>Capelin:&nbsp;</strong>NOK 0.5bn (+19%)</li> </ol> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>These are the top 10 destination countries in the first half of the year in terms of value</strong></p> <ol style="font-weight: 400;"> <li><strong>Poland:&nbsp;</strong>NOK 7.3bn (0%)</li> <li><strong>Denmark:&nbsp;</strong>NOK 7.2bn (-6%)</li> <li><strong>USA:&nbsp;</strong>NOK 6.3 billion (-8%)</li> <li><strong>Netherlands:&nbsp;</strong>NOK 5.1bn (+1%)</li> <li><strong>France:&nbsp;</strong>NOK 5.0 billion (-11%)</li> <li><strong>Spain:&nbsp;</strong>NOK 4.5bn (+2%)</li> <li><strong>United Kingdom:&nbsp;</strong>NOK 4.2bn (+0%)</li> <li><strong>China:&nbsp;</strong>NOK 4.2 billion (-3%)</li> <li><strong>Italy:&nbsp;</strong>NOK 3.8bn (-4%)</li> <li><strong>Portugal:&nbsp;</strong>NOK 2.8bn (+1%)</li> </ol> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Seafood exports in June</strong></p> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>Export value in June totalled NOK 12.1 billion</li> <li>This is a decrease of NOK 2.7 billion, or 18 per cent, compared with the same month last year.</li> </ul> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Decline in volume and value for salmon</strong></p> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>Norway exported 500,660 tonnes of salmon worth NOK 56.3 billion in the first half of the year</li> <li>The value fell by NOK 1.8 billion, or 3 per cent, compared with the first half of last year.</li> <li>Volume fell by 4 per cent</li> <li>Poland, Denmark and the US were the largest markets for salmon in the first half of the year</li> </ul> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Poland had the highest value growth in the first half of the year, with an increase in export value of NOK 267 million, or 4 per cent, compared with the first half of last year.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The export volume to Poland ended at 62,916 tonnes, which is the same as in the first half of last year.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The price of fresh whole salmon is at a record high of NOK 107 per kg, which is NOK 1 per kg higher than the previous record, which was in the first half of 2023.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>The second largest fall in value of all time</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"The fall in value in June was the second largest ever, measured against the same month the previous year. It was only beaten by March this year, but that change must be seen in the context of Easter. This time, falling salmon prices in June are the main reason for the decline", says Seafood Analyst Paul T. Aandahl of the Norwegian Seafood Council.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">In May, the export price for fresh salmon was NOK 116.66 per kg. This fell to NOK 85.85 per kg in June, a record fall of NOK 30.81 per kg.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Increased competition</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"This is the biggest drop in prices measured from one month to the next. The previous record fall between two months was in August 2022 at NOK 14.42 per kg. If we compare this to the price in June last year, the difference is NOK 14.60 per kg. This is not a record between two equal months. It was set in January 2021 at NOK 26.80 per kg" explains Aandahl.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The fall in prices this year is primarily due to a 27 per cent increase in the volume of fresh whole salmon compared with May.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;In addition, global competition is increasing. This has particularly affected prices to markets that have traditionally paid the most for salmon. In June, there was a big drop in prices to markets such as Italy, South Korea, China and the USA", says Paul T. Aandahl.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Exports of salmon in June</strong></p> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>Norway exported 93,400 tonnes of salmon worth NOK 8.9 billion in June</li> <li>The value fell by NOK 1.6 billion, or 15 per cent, compared with June last year.</li> <li>Volume fell by 4 per cent</li> </ul> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Growth in volume and value for trout</strong></p> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>Norway exported 29,839 tonnes of trout worth NOK 2.9 billion in the first half of the year</li> <li>The value increased by NOK 628 million, or 27 per cent, compared with the first half of last year</li> <li>This is a growth in volume of 44 per cent</li> <li>Ukraine, USA and Thailand were the largest markets for trout in the first half of the year</li> </ul> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Ukraine had the highest value growth in the first half of the year, with an increase in export value of NOK 423 million, or 282 per cent, compared with the first half of last year.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Exports to Ukraine totalled 6,586 tonnes, which is 272 per cent higher than in the first half of last year.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Replacing salmon with trout</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"Ukraine is a market for both salmon and trout. Despite a 30 per cent decline in the export volume of salmon, the export volume of salmonids increased by 11 per cent. The shift towards trout to Ukraine must be seen in the context of lower prices for trout compared with salmon", says Seafood Analyst Paul T. Aandahl of the Norwegian Seafood Council.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">So far this year, the average price of salmon to Ukraine is NOK 111.29 per kg, while the average price of fresh trout is NOK 88.69 per kg.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The price of fresh trout fillets is at a record high of NOK 154 per kg. This is NOK 7 per kg higher than the previous record, which was in the first half of 2023.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Trout exports in June were as follows</strong></p> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>Norway exported 6,300 tonnes of trout worth NOK 502 million in June</li> <li>The value fell by NOK 15 million, or 3 per cent, compared with June last year</li> <li>This is a growth in volume of 27 per cent</li> </ul> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Decline for fresh cod</strong></p> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>Norway exported 28,450 tonnes of fresh cod worth NOK 1.8 billion in the first half of the year</li> <li>Value fell by NOK 316 million, or 15 per cent, compared with the first half of last year</li> <li>Volume fell by 21 per cent</li> <li>Denmark, the Netherlands and Spain were the largest markets for fresh cod in the first half of the year</li> </ul> <p style="font-weight: 400;">With lower quotas, landings of fresh cod also fell sharply in the first half of the year. This has led to a major decline in export volumes.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">For fresh wild cod, the export volume fell by 29 per cent to 22,014 tonnes, while the export value fell by 24 per cent to NOK 1.4 billion.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Lowest export value since 2015</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"This is the lowest export value for fresh wild cod in the first half of the year since 2015, while we have to go all the way back to 2011 to find a lower export volume," says Seafood Analyst Eivind Hestvik Br&aelig;kkan of the Norwegian Seafood Council.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The export volume of fresh farmed cod increased by 28 per cent to 6,436 tonnes, while the export value increased by 51 per cent to NOK 372 million.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Historically high share of farmed cod</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Farmed cod accounted for 21 per cent of the export value of fresh cod in the first half of the year.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"The proportion of farmed cod has never been so high in the first half of the year. It is also both the highest export value and the highest export volume we have had for fresh farmed cod in a six-month period. With the prospect of a further decline in cod quotas in 2025, as well as continued growth in the production of farmed cod, farmed cod will account for an increasing share of cod exports from Norway", says Br&aelig;kkan.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Exports of fresh cod in June</strong></p> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>Norway exported 2,200 tonnes of fresh cod worth NOK 141 million in June</li> <li>The value fell by NOK 1 million, or 1 per cent, compared with June last year</li> <li>Volume fell by 12 per cent</li> </ul> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Frozen cod affected by the quota cut</strong></p> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>Norway exported 33,207 tonnes of frozen cod worth NOK 2 billion in the first half of the year</li> <li>Value fell by NOK 124 million, or 6 per cent, compared with the first half of last year</li> <li>Volume fell by 9 per cent</li> <li>The UK, China and Vietnam were the largest markets for frozen cod in the first half of the year</li> </ul> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Lower quotas also have an impact on export volumes for frozen cod. Norway has not exported such low volumes of frozen cod in the first half of the year since 2015.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Although export volumes to the UK fell 4 per cent to 8,300 tonnes in the first half of the year, they retain their position as our largest market for frozen cod, having overtaken China last year.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Expected increase in UK trade in goods</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Warmer temperatures and a football atmosphere are cited when growth in British retail is expected throughout the summer. In a few days' time, the British will also elect their next government.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"Despite lower cod quotas, it is positive to see the strength of the Norwegian-British seafood co-operation, with a maintained market position and growth in Norwegian exports of frozen whole cod to the UK", says Victoria Braathen, the Norwegian Seafood Council's envoy to the UK.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The volume of exports to China increased by 12 per cent to a total of 9,300 tonnes in the first half of the year. However, this is still significantly lower than in previous years. In the first half of 2022, Norway exported a total of 18,100 tonnes to China.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Continued growth to Vietnam</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Vietnam's growth continued in the first half of the year. From being the 14th largest market for frozen cod in 2022, Vietnam has now become the third largest market for frozen cod.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"Like China, Vietnam is primarily a processing market for frozen cod and other whitefish. Vietnam is also the market with the highest value growth in the first half of the year, with an increase in export value of NOK 199 million, or 186 per cent, compared with the same period last year", says Br&aelig;kkan.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Exports to Vietnam totalled 5,961 tonnes, which is 172 per cent higher than in the first half of last year.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Exports of frozen cod in June</strong></p> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>Norway exported 3,300 tonnes of frozen cod worth NOK 210 million in June</li> <li>The value fell by NOK 102 million, or 33 per cent, compared with June last year</li> <li>Volume fell by 41 per cent</li> </ul> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Volume growth for clipfish</strong></p> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>Norway exported 37,445 tonnes of clipfish worth NOK 2.4 billion in the first half of the year</li> <li>Value fell by NOK 57 million, or 2 per cent, compared with the first half of last year</li> <li>This is a growth in volume of 3 per cent</li> <li>Portugal, Brazil and the Dominican Republic were the largest markets for clipfish in the first half of the year</li> </ul> <p style="font-weight: 400;">For saithe clipfish, the export volume increased by 8 per cent to 24,002 tonnes, while the export value fell by 7 per cent to NOK 987 million.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;With major changes in quotas and landings, it is fresh and frozen cod that varies most in volume, while conventional products are more stable. We are seeing the same trend again this year. The reduction in cod quotas has not had the same impact on the export volume of cod clipfish", says Seafood Analyst Eivind Hestvik Br&aelig;kkan of the Norwegian Seafood Council.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">For cod clipfish, the export volume fell by 2 per cent to 10,158 tonnes, while the export value increased by 6 per cent to NOK 1.3 billion.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Largest value growth to Portugal</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Portugal had the highest value growth in the first half of the year, with an increase in export value of NOK 127 million, or 15 per cent, compared with the first half of last year.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The export volume to Portugal ended at 7,952 tonnes, which is 8 per cent higher than in the first half of last year. This means that the export price has increased by around 7 per cent from the first half of last year.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"In Portugal, we are now seeing consumers having to cope with higher prices in the shops, which is creating uncertainty about future consumption trends. At the same time, it's set to be another record year for tourism. This will contribute to good demand in the restaurant market", says Trond Rismo, the Norwegian Seafood Council's envoy to Portugal.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Exports of clipfish in June</strong></p> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>Norway exported 5,900 tonnes of clipfish worth NOK 392 million in June</li> <li>The value fell by NOK 103 million, or 21 per cent, compared with June last year</li> <li>Volume fell by 3 per cent</li> </ul> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Decline for salted fish</strong></p> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>Norway exported 16,951 tonnes of salted fish worth NOK 1.5 billion in the first half of the year</li> <li>Value fell by NOK 55 million, or 4 per cent, compared with the first half of last year</li> <li>Volume fell by 11 per cent</li> <li>Portugal, Greece and Spain were the largest markets for salted fish in the first half of the year</li> </ul> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Even with a significant drop in export volumes, increased prices have helped to mitigate the decline in the export value of salted cod, which accounts for 91 per cent of the export value of salted fish.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Largest share of salted fish since 2011</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">In terms of total cod exports, salted whole cod accounted for as much as 20 per cent of the export value of cod in the first half of the year.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"We have to go all the way back to 2011 to find a higher share in the first half of the year. This indicates that demand for salted cod has been stronger than for other cod products this year", says Seafood Analyst Eivind Hestvik Br&aelig;kkan of the Norwegian Seafood Council.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Greece had the highest value growth in the first half of the year, with an increase in export value of NOK 12 million, or 14 per cent, compared with the first half of last year.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Exports to Greece totalled 1,694 tonnes, which is 32 per cent higher than in the first half of last year.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Fall to Portugal</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Exports to our largest salted fish market, Portugal, fell by 16 per cent in the first half of the year to 12,000 tonnes, while export value fell by 2 per cent to NOK 1.23 billion.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"The decline in volume has contributed to an increase in prices for salted fish, which measured in euros are 16 per cent higher in the first half of this year compared with last year", explains Br&aelig;kkan.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"As with clipfish, the Portuguese are now also experiencing this price increase in the shops, which creates uncertainty about future consumption trends. At the same time, the increase in tourism is helping to boost demand in the restaurant market", says Trond Rismo, the Norwegian Seafood Council's envoy to Portugal.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Exports of salted fish in June</strong></p> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>Norway exported 2,600 tonnes of salted fish worth NOK 232 million in June</li> <li>The value fell by NOK 98 million, or 30 per cent, compared with June last year</li> <li>Volume fell by 33 per cent</li> </ul> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Stockfish decline in the first half of the year</strong></p> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>Norway exported 1,797 tonnes of stockfish worth NOK 433 million in the first half of the year</li> <li>The value fell by NOK 31 million, or 7 per cent, compared with the first half of last year.</li> <li>Volume fell by 4 per cent</li> <li>Italy, Croatia and Nigeria were the largest markets for stockfish in the first half of the year</li> </ul> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Our largest stockfish market, Italy, saw a 7 per cent decline in export volumes in the first half of the year, to a total of 1,019 tonnes. Export value fell 5 per cent to NOK 315 million.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"Since this year's stockfish production does not reach the markets until the second half of the year, last year's quota cuts have probably contributed to the decline in export volumes of stockfish in the first half of the year", says Seafood Analyst Eivind Hestvik Br&aelig;kkan of the Norwegian Seafood Council.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Lowest export volume for cod stockfish</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">For cod stockfish, which accounts for 94 per cent of the export value of all stockfish, only 2,552 tonnes have been exported in the past 12 months.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"This is a decline of 17 per cent compared with the previous 12 months and is the lowest export volume for cod stockfish ever recorded in a 12-month period. With cod quotas continuing to fall, there is a risk that the negative volume trend will continue in the future", explains Br&aelig;kkan.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Largest value growth to Croatia</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Croatia had the highest value growth in the first half of the year, with an increase in export value of NOK 13 million, or 65 per cent, compared with the first half of last year.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The export volume to Croatia ended at 107 tonnes, which is 57 per cent higher than in the first half of last year.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"With just under 4 million inhabitants, this makes Croatia the country with the highest per capita consumption of stockfish in the world. Last year, each Croatian ate an average of 60 grams of stockfish", explains Eivind Hestvik Br&aelig;kkan.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">In our largest stockfish market, Italy, per capita consumption is just over 30 grams per person. However, consumption in Italy is far higher in the largest stockfish regions.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Exports of stockfish in June</strong></p> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>Norway exported 203 tonnes of stockfish worth NOK 30 million in June</li> <li>The value fell by NOK 46 million, or 60 per cent, compared with June last year</li> <li>Volume fell by 31 per cent</li> </ul> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Decline for herring</strong></p> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>Norway exported 100,810 tonnes of herring worth NOK 1.7 billion in the first half of the year</li> <li>The value fell by NOK 160 million, or 8 per cent, compared with the first half of last year.</li> <li>Volume fell by 18 per cent</li> <li>Poland, Denmark and Lithuania were the largest markets for herring in the first half of the year</li> </ul> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The explanation for the reduction in exports lies in the reduced landings of herring in the first half of the year.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"Landings of Norwegian spring-spawning herring (NVG) fell by as much as 75,000 tonnes, a decline of 43 per cent compared with the first half of last year. This is linked to a sharp reduction in quotas", says Jan Eirik Johnsen, Head of Pelagic Species at the Norwegian Seafood Council.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">In 2023, the quota was 388,000 tonnes, while in 2024 it will be 256,000 tonnes, a reduction of 34 per cent.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Demanding fishery</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"Although significantly smaller quantities of herring have been landed so far this year, the remaining quota for the autumn is lower than last year. "Last year, 213,000 tonnes remained for the autumn, while this year 155,000 tonnes remain, i.e. 27 per cent less", says Johnsen.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">For North Sea herring, the quota has been increased by 29 per cent, from 117,000 tonnes to 151,000 tonnes.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"However, this has been a demanding fishery. 3,500 tonnes less were landed in the first six months of this year compared with the same period last year.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Lower raw material supply and good prices for residual raw materials</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"Lower raw material availability and favourable prices for residual raw materials have meant that the shift away from exports of whole frozen herring to fillets has continued in the first half of the year", Johnsen explains.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">48,000 tonnes of fillet were exported, compared with 55,000 in the same period last year, a decrease of 13 per cent. However, the value has increased from NOK 935 million to NOK 979 million, as the average price has increased from NOK 16.91 per kg to NOK 20.20 per kg.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">For frozen whole herring, the volume in the first half of the year was 24,000 tonnes, down from 47,000 tonnes in the same period last year, or 49 per cent. Here too, prices are up to NOK 14.64 per kg, compared with NOK 12.56 per kg last year.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Price record for frozen fillets of skinless NVG herring</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;This is a price record in euros for the largest export product, which is frozen fillets of skinless NVG herring. Here, the price reached 1.79 euros in June. In comparison, the price in June 2023 was &euro;1.52, which means a price increase of 18 per cent", says Jan Eirik Johnsen.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">A new record was set for whole frozen herring in both NOK and EUR in June this year. A price of NOK 13.96 per kg and EUR 1.22 per kg was achieved. This is 7 per cent and 10 per cent respectively above the prices in June 2023.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">For processed herring, there was a decline in volume in the first half of the year compared with the same period last year. 3,400 tonnes were exported, compared with 8,000 tonnes last year, a decrease of 58 per cent. The average price is up from NOK 22.97 per kg to NOK 24.87 per kg.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Positive development in Lithuania, France and Latvia</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Of the major fillet markets, exports to both Poland and Germany are falling. In the first half of the year, 20,000 tonnes were exported to these countries, with a value of NOK 382 million.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">In comparison, exports in 2023 totalled 27,000 tonnes, with a value of NOK 455 million.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">- For Lithuania, France and Latvia, however, there was a positive development. A total of 15,000 tonnes were exported to these countries, with a value of NOK 312 million. In the same period last year, exports totalled 13,000 tonnes, with a value of NOK 222 million, an increase of 15 per cent in volume and 41 per cent in value," says Jan Eirik Johnsen.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">For whole frozen herring, Egypt dominates with 41 per cent of all exports in the first half of the year. However, the volume has fallen from 29,000 tonnes in the first half of last year to 10,000 tonnes this year. The value fell from NOK 340 million to NOK 124 million.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Exports of herring in June</strong></p> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>Norway exported 9,400 tonnes of herring worth NOK 199 million in June</li> <li>The value fell by NOK 128 million, or 39 per cent, compared with June last year</li> <li>Volume fell by 49 per cent</li> </ul> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Fall in volume and value for mackerel</strong></p> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>Norway exported 67,310 tonnes of mackerel worth NOK 1.6 billion in the first half of the year</li> <li>The value fell by NOK 388 million, or 19 per cent, compared with the first half of last year.</li> <li>Volume fell by 32 per cent</li> <li>South Korea and Vietnam were the largest markets for mackerel in the first half of the year</li> </ul> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Mackerel exports are characterised by the fact that significantly smaller quantities were landed in the first half of this year compared with the same period last year. This year, 40,000 tonnes were landed in the first half of the year, compared with 55,000 tonnes last year, a decrease of 27 per cent.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>3-year agreement ensures predictability</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;The most significant development for mackerel in the first half of the year is that Norway, the UK and the Faroe Islands have agreed on a three-year agreement that establishes shares between the countries. Among other things, this gives Norwegian fishermen the opportunity to fish 60 per cent of the mackerel quota in British waters. The agreement provides important predictability, reduces fishing pressure on mackerel and allows Norwegian fishermen to fish efficiently for mackerel when the quality is at its best", says Jan Eirik Johnsen, Head of Pelagic Species at the Norwegian Seafood Council.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Vietnam has become an important processing market</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Good demand in the markets and declining supply due to quota reductions in recent years mean that a price record has been set for mackerel under 600 grams. For this dominant product, the average price was 22.65 per kg in the first half of the year. The previous record was set in 2023 (NOK 19.68 per kg).</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"In Asia, we see that Vietnam is increasing in importance as a processing market, while it is falling correspondingly for China. Mackerel processed in China is subject to a 10 per cent tariff in the largest mackerel market, Japan, while fillets from Vietnam have zero tariffs", says Johnsen.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Exports of mackerel in June</strong></p> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>Norway exported 5,900 tonnes of mackerel worth NOK 152 million in June</li> <li>The value fell by NOK 52 million, or 26 per cent, compared with June last year</li> <li>Volume fell by 34 per cent</li> </ul> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Weak half-year for king crab</strong></p> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>Norway exported 648 tonnes of king crab worth NOK 347 million in the first half of the year</li> <li>The value fell by NOK 128 million, or 27 per cent, compared with the first half of last year.</li> <li>Volume fell by 29 per cent</li> <li>The US, Canada and Vietnam were the largest markets for king crab in the first half of the year</li> </ul> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"The first half of the year has been characterized by a lower supply of king crab, which is a result of reduced quotas, bad weather at the start of the year and the extension of the closed season to both March and April", says Seafood Analyst Marte Sofie Danielsen of the Norwegian Seafood Council.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The US was the largest market in the first half of the year in terms of value and volume. Despite a decline in volume, the US share increased by 11 percentage points to 44 per cent this year. In addition, the value to the US has increased by 2 per cent, to NOK 176 million.</p> <p><strong>Record high price for live king crab</strong></p> <p>"Due to lower global supply of red king crab in the first half of the year, demand for Norwegian king crab has been strong. This led to a record high price for live king crab of NOK 596 per kg, which is NOK 39 higher than the previous record half-year, which was in the first half of 2022", explains Danielsen.</p>    Market adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro 2024-07-13 00:05:54  2025-07-09 11:07:48  Details Edit Delete
7545  JBS launches entrepreneurship program for women in agriculture  Rural female producers managing integrated farms for Seara form the first group of women trained by JBS in management - and are already seeing increased revenue and productivity on their agricultural properties.   <p><span lang="DE">They are part of the Women SuperAgro program, which provides support and tools to boost female entrepreneurship in agribusiness. The program offers training in rural property management, covering modules from people management, financial management, legal and tax issues, to sustainable production practices and animal welfare.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">A 2023 survey conducted by Seara revealed that 41% of the integrated properties are managed by women. One such case is Ivinice Schneider, an aviculturist who owns a farm in Tupandi (RS) and participated in the first edition of the program, concluded in May. She reports a 7% increase in her revenue as a result of the experience, along with improvements in product quality. "The positive results continue to improve day by day, showing that I am on the right path", she says.&nbsp;"Women SuperAgro has greatly contributed to my professional and personal growth, helping me to see and value myself as a woman leading my business, with exchanges of experiences among all of us", she adds.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Rosane Bertolin, also a participant in the first edition and responsible for a farm in Passo Fundo (RS), states that the experience helped her master management strategies. "Women SuperAgro made all the difference in my life because I learned to direct and delegate tasks to my team, gaining more time to dedicate myself to other important administrative issues," says the entrepreneur.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">For Pauline Bellaver, Sustainability Specialist at Seara, the program represents another important step for the company in the sector, empowering female entrepreneurs to advance their careers. "By bringing together the experiences of so many incredible women, we had the opportunity to offer enriching knowledge exchange to our integrated producers, ensuring that everything taught during the course is put into practice in their daily lives on the field", comments Pauline. "The program was carefully designed to provide support and tools for them to further develop their family businesses, in a more sustainable way, enhancing the quality and well-being that JBS promotes among its integrated producers", she explains.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">With 1.5-hour video lessons and biweekly in-person meetings, the first edition of the program lasted seven months, focusing on self-awareness, sustainability, technical training, and entrepreneurship.</span></p>    Market adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro 2024-07-13 00:10:54  2025-07-08 20:17:40  Details Edit Delete
7546  Argentine: Beef consumption at record low in 2024  Beef-loving Argentines are cutting back on their steaks as the country's economy slumps, meaning cattle consumption will likely hit a record low this year, according to Reuters.  <p style="font-weight: 400;">Argentina's beef consumption&nbsp;in 2024 is expected to total around 44.8 kg (98.77 lb), the lowest since record-keeping began in 1914, said the Rosario exchange, which publishes market updates for grains and livestock. The historic average is nearly 73 kg.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The South American nation's economy has been hit hard by triple-digit inflation, a&nbsp;recession&nbsp;and rising&nbsp;poverty&nbsp;and unemployment.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Libertarian President Javier Milei, who took office in December, has rolled out austerity measures to reign in government spending. He also ended the previous government's freeze on beef prices.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Argentine, famed for its beef-eating culture, is dotted with steakhouses, cattle ranches and asado barbecues.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Longer-term trends show the population is increasingly turning to cheaper alternatives such as chicken and pork. In 2024, nearly 2 kg of alternative meats can be purchased for the price of 1 kg of beef, the report showed.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">However, this year, all meat consumption is set to drop 9% from last year to the lowest since 2011, the exchange said.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">As consumption at home drops, farmers are increasingly shipping their beef abroad. Export volumes from January to May of this year are up 10% from the year-ago period.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Despite eating less beef, Argentines consume much more than Americans who chow down an average of 38 kg a year, Australians' 27 kg, and Chileans' 26 kg.</p>    Retail adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro 2024-07-14 00:05:47  2025-07-09 19:12:01  Details Edit Delete
7547  8.3 percent of people cannot afford a proper meal in the EU  Eight in one hundred people in the EU cannot afford a proper meal according to data from 2022, shared on Eurostat.   <p><span lang="DE">8.3% of the EU population cannot afford a meal containing meat, fish or a vegetarian equivalent every second day, which is one percentage point higher compared with 2021 (7.3%). And when it comes to the percentage of&nbsp;people at risk of poverty, this was 2.2 percentage points higher than in 2021, at 19.7% vs. 17.5%.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">This is&nbsp;a worrying situation, and varies quite widely between different EU countries. The highest share of people at risk of poverty unable to afford a proper meal was recorded in&nbsp;Bulgaria&nbsp;(44.6%), followed by&nbsp;Romania&nbsp;(43.0%) and&nbsp;Slovakia&nbsp;(40.5%). On the other hand, the lowest share was recorded in&nbsp;Ireland&nbsp;(5.0%), followed by&nbsp;Luxembourg&nbsp;(5.1%) and&nbsp;Cyprus&nbsp;(5.6%).</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">The capacity to afford a meal with meat, chicken, fish or vegetarian equivalent every second day is among the&nbsp;items observed at the household level to calculate the severe material and social deprivation rate, which is one of the headline indicators of the&nbsp;European Pillar of Social Rights&nbsp;&ndash; Social Scoreboard of indicators. The capacity to afford a proper meal is also part of&nbsp;Sustainable Development Goals&nbsp;(SDGs). The second goal, &ldquo;Zero hunger&rdquo; (SDG2), seeks expressly to&nbsp;eradicate hunger and all forms of malnutrition&nbsp;while ensuring access to safe, nutritious and adequate food.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">In light of this concerning situation in Europe, a region considered to be amongst the most developed, &nbsp;it seems quite illogical that the idea of imposing taxes on meat and dairy products&nbsp;to discourage the purchase of animal-source foods for other types of food, such as legumes and vegetables would gain much traction. In the desire to address environmental concerns, it should not be forgotten that&nbsp;meat and animal-source foods are irreplaceable sources of essential nutrients&nbsp;often missing or unavailable in plant-source foods. Ensuring sustainable production is important of course, but pushing such simplistic solutions that would further prohibit certain populations from affording a proper meal just doesn&rsquo;t make sense.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">A meat tax would threaten adequate nutrient intake</span><span lang="DE">, worsening the situation. On top of that, those with a higher income would probably continue to consume the same quantities of meat, while the less fortunate would be further deprived of it or purchase lesser quality foods,&nbsp;increasing social inequality. Ensuring the continued affordability of good quality&nbsp;red meat, chicken, and fish&nbsp;is essential to allow people to make the choice for meals that are&nbsp;healthy and complete.</span></p>    Market adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro 2024-07-14 00:10:17  2025-07-09 09:13:44  Details Edit Delete
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