Training key to the future of poultry: BPC chairman
The new head of the British Poultry Council (BPC) has laid out a vision for the organisation to take on a bigger role in attracting new entrants to the industry, and called on the farming minister, Jim Paice, to help.
“2011 will see the BPC making a visible commitment to recruiting young people into our sector, and helping them develop a dynamic and exciting career in our businesses,” John Reed, BPC chairman, said at this week’s BPC annual awards at the House of Commons.
“Minister, we’re not going to come to you asking for a hand-out. But we are going to ask you to help us set the right environment for encouraging young people into the poultry sector.”
Mr Reed also wished Mr Paice success in his efforts to roll back red tape, asking him not to further burden UK poultry producers by “gold plating”. “It will require a concerted effort by government and industry to get some of the outdated and overly prescriptive EU regulation amended,” Mr Reed said.
“Here we are looking to you, Minister, to drive those necessary changes in Brussels, and not to penalise us with regulatory gold plating in the meantime.”
The minister was criticised earlier this year for “gold plating” the EU Broiler Welfare Directive, which will see UK producers limited to a live bird stocking density of 39kg/m2, while producers elsewhere in the EU can stock at 42kg/m2.
Mr Paice supported the move to expand training and draw people into the industry and said he believes the red tape review will lead to a culture change in regulation.
“We need to get young people into the industry and make them understand there are real prospects here that provide the sort of career chances people want,” he said.
“I hope that [the red tape review] will bring about a culture change to how we go about applying regulations, based on risk assessment rather than blanket regulation.”
BPC award winners
Eight winners walked away from the awards ceremony with some of the poultrymeat sector’s highest accolades.
Distinguished service awards went to Robin Faccenda of Facenda Group, Eric Reid formerly of Moy Park and Richard Bird of Cherry Valley for their service to the industry.
The marketing award was given to Judy Goodman for her work marketing geese, while the special merit award was won by Stephen Lister of Crowshall Veterinary Services for his work as a veterinary specialist working across the sector.
The scholarship award went to Erica Bickerton for her research into infectious brochitis, while the training award went to James Hook and Peter Furlong for their work backing the PD Hook scholarship scheme at Harper Adams College.
Awards winners: In-depth
Distinguished service awards
Robin Faccenda has run an integrated poultry business operating hatcheries, feed mills, farms and processing plants since the early 1960s. Robert is recognised with the award for his service to the industry as a benefactor of Harper Adams College, supporter of training in the industry as well as an active member of the BPC and chairman of the chicken sector group.
Eric Reid is the son of a poultry farmer and has worked for Moy Park throughout its long history to the present day where they produce about 13.5m chickens per week. Mr Reid has worked on a variety of BPC committee’s and has lobbied on behalf of the Northern Irish industry in Stormont, Westminster and Brussels.
Richard Bird started work with Cherry Valley more than 40 years ago and has travelled the world promoting UK genetic stock as well as promoting improvements in the production of ducks around the world. Mr Bird has worked extensively in China, where he has led the way in Cherry Valley developing modern and highly productive farms to supply an emerging market.
Marketing award
Judy Goodman started small, raising geese as a hobby in the early 1980s, and then expanding her business through farm gate sales, butchers, food halls and increasingly via the internet. Ms Goodman was elected chairman of the British Goose Producers Association in 2006 and was a runner-up for the Farmers Weekly Poultry Farmer of the Year award earlier this year.
Special merit award
Stephen Lister has worked as a vet since the late 1970s and as a poultry specialist for the last 20 years, starting his own practice in the mid 1990s. Mr Lister has served on the Farm Animal Welfare Council as well as across professional poultry organisations in the UK and EU.
Scholarship award
Erica Bickerton has recently been awarded her PhD, which involved research into the infectious bronchitis virus, identifying different mediums where the virus can be grown away from chicken and eggs. Ms Bickerton will continue her research this year, working on developing vaccines for dangerous viral strains.
Training award
James Hook and Peter Furlong have been recognised for their contribution to making the PD Hook scholarship program a success in its first two years. Mr Hook worked at this year’s Pig and Poultry Fair to promote the scholarship, which saw more students than ever apply.