French livestock event SPACE, now in its 30th year, continued a well-established tradition, welcoming new French Agriculture Minister Stephane Travert to the show’s opening ceremony.
In addressing the minister, SPACE President Marcel Deniel, stressed that the men and women behind French livestock production are “tired,” their health is suffering, and that they need greater recognition if the French livestock sector is to survive. Morale in the livestock sector is fragile, he said, as is livestock’s economic future.
While all sectors of French livestock production may be looking for help, their situations vary. Pig production is said to be “holding steady,” while poultry producers are “expecting the worst.”
Among the needs of the various sectors are not only investment, but a fairer payment system, and while he recognized that the new French government had made various promises to make the food chain fairer, promises without action would be of no value.
Deniel continued that the right price for meat is the “just” price, and this is not necessarily the lowest.
Travert, responding to the sector’s demands argued that producers must become more organized to have a stronger voice with meat processors, and looking to consumer trends to see where new opportunities or added value lie, and how consumer demands are evolving.
It is not the ministry, producers or processors who will decide livestock producers' future, but the consumer, he said.
Accused of saying “just enough and no more”, the minister detailed tax credits for research, professional development and the need to invest in overseas development, rather than offering direct aid.
The unusually calm atmosphere at this year’s event, saw Travert argue that compromise was the way forward for the difficulties of the livestock sectors, and that the government would look for agreements that considered all players in the food chain from producers to consumers.