Home
News
David Black award for Norfolk pig farmer
This year's edition of the David Black award, for work
in the British pig meat sector, has been awarded to Philip
Richardson.
Richardson, who has a 340 sow unit near Wymondham in Norfolk, UK, received
the award from Food and Farming minister Lord Rooker during a breakfast in the
House of Lords, London, earlier this week.
The winner's overall assessment of the British pig industry prospects
reflected comfort. He said, "The industry has a hard road ahead and some
difficult challenges to face, but we are now starting to exploit added value and
local sourcing and I believe it has a positive future."
Environment
However, Richardson urged the industry to tackle concerns over the
environment and climate change. "The fundamental issues facing the British pig
industry are concern for the environment and more particularly climate change,"
he said.
"I know some of the people on the ground are very reasonable and practical,
but I'm not yet convinced all those at Head Office consider the practicality and
viability of farms as very important," he added.
Supermarkets
Richardson also claimed that supermarkets, sometimes suggested to be too
powerful, bring good as well as bad.
He said, "I am not going to blame the supermarkets for everything. I think
they do take a bit more margin than they should - it's a two-edged sword because
they also make the industry think carefully about the market and the quality of
the product."
Related website:
Editor PigProgress
To comment, login here
Or register to be able to comment.