Dairy Event 2011: Paice calls for unity

The dairy industry has to be more united if it is to seize the opportunities available to it and become more profitable in future, according to farm minister Jim Paice.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Dairy Event and Livestock Show in Birmingham on Tuesday (6 September), Mr Paice said the UK had some of the best, most-efficient dairy farmer’s in Europe.

And while the industry faced challenges, he said he was confident about the industry’s future if producers and processors learned to work more effectively together.

“We have great products and massive investment in new factories,” he said.

“But I’m not convinced the industry is joined-up enough.

“I want to see domestic market growth, to reduce imports and explore new markets.

“If the industry seizes those opportunities available to it, it can secure a long-term future.”

Mr Paice said he felt positive about UK dairying and was committed to do everything he could to help it achieve success, particularly through supporting a voluntary code of practice for dairy contracts and the implementation of a retailer ombudsman.

For more on the European dairy package and the voluntary code of practice, watch our exclusive video with Jim Paice:

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