Tapping into the lucrative multi-million dollar global market for pigs’ feet, also known as pig trotters, could be a saving grace for agriculture in a post-Brexit United Kingdom, said the chair of Northern Ireland’s Food and Drink Association.
If Britain’s department for environment, food and rural affairs changed its stance to allow U.K. processors to export parts of animal carcasses now classed as waste, then farmers may find more ways to earn money, said Declan Billington.
During a meeting of the Agri-Food Strategy Board in Northern Ireland, Billington said it was up to farm leaders in Northern Ireland to influence those leading Brexit negotiations in London.
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“Brexit is the only show in town and we must embrace it. Going forward is what we must do and do so with a game plan,” he said.
He said if tariffs are imposed on Northern Ireland’s produce it could see cheese prices rise by as much as 58 percent and milk prices rise by 30 percent.
Where the pig trotters come in, he said, is that they are now classed by DEFRA as waste and cannot be exported, yet there is a huge market for them in China.
“The Germans and the Dutch already export pigs trotters to China, which is proving to be a lucrative deal as it means a higher percentage of the animal is salable. “In Northern Ireland and in the rest of the U.K., this means we are losing a lot of trade because of that one product. But there are many others just as valuable.
He said he questions the agricultural knowledge possessed by the Brexit negotiators in London and emphasized the need for agricultural leaders in Northern Ireland to make sure their voices are heard.
Tony O’Neill, chair of the Agri-Food Strategy Board called for unity to deliver a strong message.
“With a single strong voice we can get our message across much more easily to our own advantage. It will be a challenge to speak with one voice but we must do it for the sale of our industry and the 43,000 jobs supported by the agri-food industry in Northern Ireland.”
The chair of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board in England Peter Kendall said Northern Ireland was in a super positionto negotiate Brexit.
“Even though it is the U.K. as an entirety that must negotiate Brexit, once the doors have been opened, each country within the U.K. can identify its own niche food groups to international customers.
“Northern Ireland is in a super position to do that with the importance of its trading with the Republic of Ireland.”
