Dairy uk provides industry opportunity

NFU Cymru sees the launch of Dairy UK as a real chance for the Welsh dairy industry to unite and meet the challenges facing the sector.

NFU England and Wales Dairy Board Chairman, Gwyn Jones, said: "Dairy UK represents a tremendous opportunity for the whole industry - farmers, co-operatives and processors - to tackle together the issues that confront the sector. Our industry has never faced so many challenges and it is vital that our efforts are co-ordinated for the benefit of all parties."

In welcoming the launch, NFU England and Wales President, Tim Bennett, who farms in Carmarthenshire, said: "With CAP reform looming, British dairying must make the transition toward a market driven industry. To ensure a sustainable and profitable milk supply into the future we must collectively improve supply chain operations and efficiency, to protect the image of our product and seek new opportunities.

Dairy UK presents an opportunity to bring together a wealth of knowledge within the sector to help achieve these aims."

Dairy UK will offer a range of professional services to its members, promote supply chain solutions and seek to lobby EU, national and regional authorities on a range of regulatory issues affecting the whole of the dairy supply chain.

Speaking of the NFU's role in the new organisation, Mr Jones said: "As the leading representative of British dairy farmers, the NFU will continue to campaign for profitability. We will tackle issues ranging from increasing environmental burdens, to persistently low milk prices. But many of the issues we face - the image of milk, supply chain efficiency, retail consolidation and food hygiene - require the kind of joined-up, industry wide approach that Dairy UK offers."