Fully costed 13-point action plan over five years looks to greater competitiveness BPEX unveils a recovery plan for British pigmeat A recovery strategy for the British pig industry was unveiled by the British Pig Executive last week at the British Pig and Poultry Fair. In post-Curry report mood, sector leaders made it clear than self-help was a key factor in reversing the calamitous decline in volume, along with more closely integrated supply chains and improved dialogue, facilitated "now the industry is more concentrated". Road to Recovery is a 13-point action plan over five years costing at least £13m a year of which £10m will come from levy payers. The 13 points of the BPEX plan boil down to three main strands: improving competitiveness; adding value and promoting Quality Assured British products ­ the term pigmeat has been rejected as meaningless to consumers; and building alliances with the rest of the industry. BPEX chairman Richard Campbell says in the Road to Recovery report: "The most significant challenge for producers, processors and customers is likely to be having the vision and persistence to change from being adversaries in business to acting and feeling as true partners." The strategy looks to the expansion of the solid base of customers who place sufficient value on Quality Assured produced pork and pork products. "The potential of this market has yet to be fully exploited." A further new development is working together with competitors such as the Dutch and the Danes in non-competitive areas such as health, diet and education. The BPEX initiative also envisages expanding market research at consumer, retailer and processor/farmer levels to ensure specific identification of market segment demands. "Recovery lies along a route of improved competitiveness throughout the supply chain, stronger consumer demand for British pork and pork products, and the support of retailers and caterers. Improved competitiveness will come as collaboration between producers, processors and their customers leads to the uptake of new ideas and working practices." In addition there will be a Zoonoses Action Programme to monitor and eventually eliminate salmonella with the aid of £1m-plus match-funding over three years from the Food Standards Agency. {{MEAT }}

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