That was a key message to emerge from the SIAL Paris, a big international food fair attracting buyers from more than 200 countries.
The United Kingdom had long been a key outlet for New Zealand companies and would remain so despite Britain’s uncertain trading future.
It faced short-term doubts because of the weakness of sterling and longer-term because of Brexit.
SIAL was the first chance for traders to compare notes on the UK’s decision to leave the European Union.
The issue dominated the week, especially whether the exit process could be completed by mid-2019.
There were plenty in Britain who believe Brexit would take a lot longer than forecast, including UK livestock export specialist Jean-Pierre Garnier.
He said it took the UK seven years of talking to originally become a member of the EU and it could take even longer to leave.
Preaching a resolute business-as-usual message in his role as head of exports for beef, lamb and pork at the UK’s Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, Garnier said he believed UK farmers should concentrate on the present, adding British lamb producers should be looking to expand output by about 4% a year, growth he was confident could be absorbed through export increases.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary Andrea Leadsom, a leading Brexit campaigner, used SIAL to deliver a similar upbeat message, launching a government-backed action designed to grow British food and drink exports by £3 billion over the next five years.
“What we’re seeing currently within the EU, including the UK, is a growing degree of nationalism in relation to meat generally but especially as regards lamb.”
Laurent Vernet
Quality Meat Scotland
The plan, which identified nine best potential markets across 18 countries, included the promise of new access opportunities for British lamb and beef in the United States and the same for beef and poultry in Japan and for pork in China.
Back on the question of NZ and its place in the EU market, the most enlightening comment of the week came from Quality Meat Scotland marketing head Laurent Vernet who said “What we’re seeing currently within the EU, including the UK, is a growing degree of nationalism in relation to meat generally but especially as regards lamb.
“While the farming unions in the UK are saying we need home-sourced lamb during the domestic season, therefore, we see exactly the same happening in France and other parts of Europe.
“I’m sure NZ lamb exporters understand that, however, and I’m also sure they’ll find a way to operate effectively around these factors in the future.”
