Act stronger as a meat chain

Economic and social challenges for the Dutch meat sector can only be tackled effectively through stronger chain links. Following in the footsteps of the veal sector, the pig sector will also set up a new chain organisation to work together to achieve common goals in the areas of the environment, animal health and welfare. That is what COV chairman Jos Goebbels said at the General Assembly in Utrecht.

In his explanation of the COV's annual report, the chairman referred to the policy vision of Minister Schouten, in which circular agriculture is the main focus. Goebbels: 'That is a perfect fit for us, because the meat sector is pre-eminently geared to optimally processing residual flows and supplying by-products, both at home and abroad. As a chain we will further optimise our footprint in order to achieve the climate targets set by Paris and the government, but also to develop further on animal health and welfare. It is essential that we as a pig chain join forces, as the veal sector does through SBK, with its own chain organisation. Cooperation between the producers of animal feed, pig farmers, trade & logistics with our slaughterhouses and meat companies gives an impulse to achieving social objectives.

According to Goebbels, cooperation in meat chains is also necessary to strengthen the image of Dutch meat and to maintain support for production in the Netherlands. It is necessary, says Goebbels, to put our own story and the right facts about meat well in the spotlight: 'I am pleased with the remark made by Secretary General Kees Jan Goet (LNV) at our members' meeting, who states that polarisation, threats and intimidation by radical groups stand in the way of any social dialogue. Fake news and framing dominate the media. It is up to us to respond to incorrect information and false claims and to contrast them with other stories and better information. Recently, as COV, we were proved right by a complaint against Wakker Dier before the Advertising Code Committee. And with Vlees.nl we have won an important lawsuit against Varkens in Nood. These successes strengthen our conviction that we have a good story with the communication platform Vlees.nl, that we offer honest information there and that it is a good thing that we can invest more in this.