The 2016 annual conference of the International Beef Alliance (IBA) hosted by Beef + Lamb New Zealand in Taupo, 16 – 21 October, offered the opportunity for leaders of the major beef producers groups of Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, Paraguay, and the United States to exchange views on a wide variety of topics including trade liberalisation, sustainable beef production, and young leader development.
The Alliance, which represents 46% of global beef trade and 63% of global beef exports, is particularly concerned by the growing rhetoric opposing trade. The rising tide of global protectionism threatens to undermine momentum in trade reform that has to date delivered substantial benefits to beef producers, their wider rural economies and consumers.
In this regard, the IBA calls on all 12 Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) member countries to expedite their respective domestic ratification procedures in order to secure a more seamless trade and investment environment and deliver the potential gains on offer for the beef sector.
The IBA also reaffirms its unequivocal support for further trade liberalisation and, in conjunction with supply chain partners, will redouble its efforts to prevent the imposition of trade restrictive non-tariff barriers and eliminate those already in place. We support progress on liberalisation through all mechanisms including multilateral, regional and sectoral engagement.
Sustainability of beef production was of similar priority for IBA delegates at the conference. Sustainability is viewed as a key requirement for meeting the continued global demand for beef by balancing environmental responsibility, economic opportunity and social diligence. The IBA will continue to advocate issues such as improving animal health and care, reducing beef’s environmental footprint, and ensuring a positive social and economic impact.
The beef sector’s future is highly reliant on current and future producers. To this end the IBA was pleased to include young leaders in the conference and will continue to foster capability building within our industry and encourage them to be champions of the principles of the alliance.
Source: Cattle