UFU urges consumers to ask one question as local beef farmers face growing pressure

The UFU is encouraging consumers to question the origin of the beef they purchase this World Cup.

Local beef farmers are being urged to put the spotlight on the origin of the meat on consumers’ plates this summer, as the Ulster Farmers’ Union launches a new campaign amid mounting concerns over imports, falling farmgate prices and growing pressure on the beef sector.

The UFU’s ‘Where Is Your Beef From?’ campaign is running throughout the FIFA World Cup and aims to encourage shoppers, diners and takeaway customers to ask where their beef originates and under what standards it has been produced.

The initiative comes at a challenging time for Northern Ireland’s beef industry, with producers facing rising costs, increased competition from imported products and concerns about the long-term impact of trade agreements on local farming businesses.

Using the World Cup to highlight local food production

The six-week football tournament is expected to bring families and friends together around barbecues, pub gatherings, restaurant meals and takeaway food, making it one of the busiest periods of the year for beef consumption.

The UFU believes the occasion provides an opportunity to encourage greater awareness of food provenance and to highlight the quality, traceability and production standards associated with Northern Ireland beef.

Rather than focusing solely on where consumers buy their food, the campaign asks people to consider the country in which the beef was produced and the standards behind its production.

Farmers facing economic challenges

According to the UFU, many local beef producers are currently operating under significant pressure.

The organisation points to a combination of factors affecting the sector, including:

• Falling beef prices

• Rising production costs

• Increasing volumes of imported beef entering the UK market

The union argues that these challenges are creating uncertainty for producers while also raising questions about transparency within the food supply chain.

UFU Deputy President Clement Lynch said Northern Ireland farmers continue to produce beef to some of the highest standards anywhere in the world.

“Northern Ireland beef farmers produce a world-class product to some of the highest standards anywhere in the world. Our Farmers take great pride in the quality of their livestock, their commitment to animal welfare and the traceability that builds consumer confidence.

“Consumers increasingly want to know more about the food they eat and where it comes from. We believe they should have access to clear information that allows them to make informed choices when purchasing beef, in a supermarket, restaurant, takeaway or other food service.”

Call for greater transparency on imported beef

While stressing that the campaign is not opposed to international trade, the UFU says consumers should be given clear and consistent information about the origin of beef products so they can make informed purchasing decisions.

The organisation argues that better transparency would allow those who wish to support local food production to do so with confidence.

“This is about transparency and informed choices,” Mr Lynch said.

“If consumers want to support local farmers and local food production, they need the information to make that choice and should be able to clearly identify where the beef originates from.”

Union seeks urgent government action

As part of the campaign, the UFU is writing to Dame Angela Eagle MP, Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs, and DAERA Minister Andrew Muir MLA seeking urgent engagement on the challenges facing the sector.

The union is calling for:

• Mandatory country-of-origin labelling across food service, hospitality, catering and processed beef products

• Greater transparency regarding the origin and production standards of imported beef

• A Northern Ireland-specific assessment of how trade agreements and increasing beef imports are affecting local producers

• Stronger equivalence measures to ensure imported beef is not produced under standards significantly different from those required of UK farmers

• Public procurement policies that prioritise beef produced to UK-equivalent standards

• A clear commitment that domestic producers will not be disadvantaged by future trade policy decisions

The proposals are intended to address concerns that Northern Ireland producers could face increasing competition from imports produced under different regulatory frameworks and production systems.

Food security warning as campaign gets under way

The UFU says the debate extends beyond farming incomes and into wider questions about food security and the resilience of domestic food production.

Mr Lynch warned that recent global events have demonstrated the importance of maintaining reliable local food supply chains and ensuring consumers understand where their food comes from.

“Food security must not be taken for granted. Recent years have shown how important it is to maintain strong domestic food production and resilient supply chains.

“Major sporting events bring people together around food. Whether it is a barbecue with friends, a steak dinner or a burger while watching a match, we want consumers to pause and ask one simple question where is your beef from?

“And we don’t mean the retailer, we mean the country of origin and therefore the standards its produced to and by doing this, they can support their local farmer this World Cup.”

With beef remaining one of Northern Ireland’s most important agricultural products, the campaign seeks to place consumer awareness at the centre of a wider conversation about farming sustainability, food security and the future of local food production during one of the biggest sporting events of the year.