NIGTA members attending the launch of the Food Fortress pilot scheme for compounders were not only reassured regarding the impact and effectiveness of the scheme, but were totally impressed by the support that it would have from the Global Food Security Unit at Queens University - a unique and world leading facility.

Chris Elliott, Professor of food safety at QUB told his audience that this £33 million investment which had funding from global organisations such as the Gates Foundation can take feed and food testing to a whole new level and give the agri food industry in Northern Ireland a major competitive advantage.

NIGTA Members visited Queens University in September to look around the Global Food Security Unit
NIGTA Members visited Queens University in September to look around the Global Food Security Unit

This cutting edge technology is attracting interest from the major retailers such as Tesco and Marks and Spencer who wish to monitor and test for contaminants in order to avoid food scares such as the recent horse meat scare.

These comments were supported by Professor Pat Wall from University College , Dublin, who has been involved with the Food Fortress scheme since its inception. He pointed out that the food chain is now a very complex one with ingredients for animal and human food sourced from around the world. The animal feed industry is at the very beginning of this chain - it is like the foundation of a house – something wrong at this stage can undermine the entire building.

Owen Brennan, NIGTA President, pointed out that the increase in global population along with the increase in incomes will have a big effect on food production. Northern Irelands ambitious plan for growth in the Agri food industry can only be delivered with the highest standards of quality and safety and the Food Fortress will be a key element of that strategy for growth. Queens work in analysing the history of incidents in the Food Chain and their risk assessments are the basis of the new scheme. They highlighted the potential for a coordinated program to bring together all the testing currently carried out to deliver a much more robust scheme to protect the industry.

When thanking the speakers for their input and the NIGTA members for their attendance Owen Brennan emphasised that the launch of Food Fortress would be greatly enhanced if those present communicated the information they had received to others in their company and even more importantly, to their customers.

The operation of the Food Fortress pilot was detailed by Robin Irvine, Chief Executive of NIGTA. The pooling of information was a key element with samples called off on a rota basis to ensure a spread across all raw materials, across the main contaminants and throughout the year. This bank of information would be the key to dealing with future problems in that an incident can be viewed against the background of the whole testing program. This will help inform regulators and should ensure a proportionate response to issues as they arise. The use of composite samples will ensure that costs are kept to a minimum and mean that scheme members will have a much greater level of assurance for the money they spend.

A new animal feed testing and sampling regime which starts its initial run this summer, will put the animal feed trade in Ireland ahead of every country in Europe This was the message from Professor Chris Elliott, from the Global Food Security Unit at Queens University when he spoke at a recent meeting of the Northern Ireland Grain Trade Association.(NIGTA)

Professor Chris Elliott, left, Guest Speaker at the NI Grain Trade Association quarterly meeting pictured with NIGTA President, Owen Brennan, right and NIGTA member Declan Billington. Photograph: Columba O'Hare
Professor Chris Elliott, left, Guest Speaker at the NI Grain Trade Association quarterly meeting pictured with NIGTA President, Owen Brennan, right and NIGTA member Declan Billington. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

He congratulated NIGTA on having the foresight to utilise the scientific knowledge and modern technology to carry out this detailed sampling, and monitoring plan. He added "As the first link in the food chain you are setting an excellent example. This must be followed throughout the food chain, with the ultimate aim of testing and monitoring everything that is imported into or exported from Ireland and GB."

NIGTA members have been working closely with Queens to develop a feed security system which will help ensure the safety of all feed materials coming into the island of Ireland and will continue to monitor them through the processing and transporting of the animal feed to the farm gate. A detailed analysis of all sources of contamination and monitoring systems has been developed in conjunction with a comprehensive sampling and testing regime.

Chris Elliott commented "The system we have developed has been bench marked against some of the leading monitoring and testing systems in Europe and has indicated that our system is much more comprehensive in its monitoring and testing over a very wide range of materials."

NI Grain Trade Association members David Malseed, Rachel Murray and Anne Marie Connolly enjoy a chat at the Grain Trade quarterly meeting in Belfast. Photograph: Columba O'Hare
NI Grain Trade Association members David Malseed, Rachel Murray and Anne Marie Connolly enjoy a chat at the Grain Trade quarterly meeting in Belfast. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

Professor Elliott has also been tasked by government to study the integrity of the food supply chain and report on the horsemeat contamination and what lessons have been learned for the future. He points out that cost is everything in the supermarket trade and some manufacturers had to find ways of meeting this price pressure. He added "If the UK market is not prepared to pay for our food why are we selling it there.? Take the example of infant milk formula in China. The biggest supplier is Ireland and the Chinese pay five times more for the Irish product than the local one because there is a quality guarantee."

NIGTA President, Owen Brennan, who is also a member of the Food Strategy Board welcomed these comments stating that these messages were included in the Board's "Going For Growth" report - grow NI food output by 60% by 2020, through support from government and the regulators along with wholesome food which is quality guaranteed at every link in the chain.

Joe Gilkinson, who chairs the family owned, rural feed compounders committee within NIGTA added "The Food Strategy report is a challenging document but to grow the industry we need farmers. I would like to emphasise that our customers will need support from government and the financial institutions to deliver the growth required. As Chris Elliott has implied, they require the food chain to return prices which will bring profitability back to the primary producers and which will allow them to recover from the effects of weather conditions combined with poor prices."

NIGTA organised a Seminar at the Belfast Harbour Commissioners Office for the Danske Bank's Agribusiness team recently. A program of speakers covered the range of activity within the local supply trade. Presentations were delivered by Joe O'Neill, Commercial Director, Belfast Harbour who gave an insight into the history of Belfast Harbour and the important role the port plays in the agricultural industry here..

NI Grain Trade Association Chief Executive Robin Irvine pictured at the Danske Bank Agribusiness team meeting in Belfast chatting to John Henning, Head of Agricultural Relations, Danske Bank and Roberta Armstrong, Agribusiness Manager, Danske Bank, Coleraine
NI Grain Trade Association Chief Executive Robin Irvine pictured at the Danske Bank Agribusiness team meeting in Belfast chatting to John Henning, Head of Agricultural Relations, Danske Bank and Roberta Armstrong, Agribusiness Manager, Danske Bank, Coleraine

Ben Frazer from W & R Barnett spoke on global grain markets focusing on recent production estimates and likely trends for this year. This was followed by NIGTA Chief Executive Robin Irvine who gave a local perspective highlighting the importance of the supply trade and the effect of price volatility on agriculture here. Robin highlighted the problems of profitability and cash flow at farm level and the impact this had on the trade.

Guest speakers at the recent Danske Bank Agribusiness team meeting were Ben Frazer, Commodity Trader, W&R Barnett; Robin Irvine, Chief Executive, NI Grain Trade Association and Joe O'Neill, Commercial Director, Belfast Harbour They are pictured with John Henning, Robert McCullough and Debbie Reid from Danske Bank during the event held at Belfast Harbour in association with the NI Grain Trade Association.
Guest speakers at the recent Danske Bank Agribusiness team meeting were Ben Frazer, Commodity Trader, W&R Barnett; Robin Irvine, Chief Executive, NI Grain Trade Association and Joe O'Neill, Commercial Director, Belfast Harbour They are pictured with John Henning, Robert McCullough and Debbie Reid from Danske Bank during the event held at Belfast Harbour in association with the NI Grain Trade Association.

All presentations were followed by useful Q&A sessions with discussion continuing over lunch at the Harbour Office. The group then travelled to John Thompsons & Sons Ltd for a tour of the mill at York Street, Belfast and an informative discussion with Declan Billington, Chief Executive and George Starrett, Nutritionist.

A NIGTA delegation in the form of Robin Irvine CEO and Joe Gilkinson, Country Compounders Convenor met Minister of Agriculture Michelle O'Neill to discuss issues of concern to the trade. They outlined the background to the current high feed cost and the impact of this, together with problems of fodder shortage and quality, on farm profitability and cash flow. 

Joe Gilkinson, left, Convneor of NIGTA's country compounders sector and Robin Irvine, Chief Executive, NIGTA outlined feed issues to the Minister of Agriculture, Michelle O'Neill.
Joe Gilkinson, left, Convneor of NIGTA's country compounders sector and Robin Irvine, Chief Executive, NIGTA outlined feed issues to the Minister of Agriculture, Michelle O'Neill.

The trade is carrying an extra 40 to 50 Million Pounds of additional credit to farmers and supply business's are under severe pressure. Farmers need help to cope with the increasing volatility in cost and returns and the food chain needs to respond with more support for primary producers. The Minister was supportive of the NIGTA position and agreed that development of financial management skills should be a priority for farmers. She welcomed enthusiastically the Value of Advice initiative and the introduction of the Feed Advisors Register which will enhance the support the trade can provide to local farmers.

Northern Ireland Grain Trade Association Chief Executive Robin Irvine has confirmed that compound feed prices will fall across all the livestock sectors, as new season grain and soya crops become available over the coming months.

He added:

"Pig and poultry farmers have already seen the benefit of reduced grain prices as those wheat and barley based diets have been the first to reflect the new harvest prices. As new crop material comes on stream and prices ease for some of the non grain materials, reductions will take effect across the range of feeds including ruminant rations in the coming weeks.

"Further reductions can be expected as harvests progress in other parts of the world and it will take the safe arrival of new crop maize and soya later in the Autumn to bring the full impact of global price reductions and a welcome ease in production costs for local producers.

"Demand for feed materials has been at record high levels for the last twelve months or so and world stocks have been depleted for a number of key commodities. There has been concern that supplies of some materials would not carry through to the new harvest - this has kept the markets nervous and spot prices have been strong .

"Soya has been a particular case in point and while there is a big crop expected in the USA the market is still trading at high prices. The crop was late planting and harvest is likely to be delayed so it will be some weeks before an accurate harvest forecast can be made but it will take a record crop to meet the growth in global demand. Local producers will not see the full benefit of new season prices until the crop is harvested, crushed and shipped to Northern Ireland – probably in November.

"Similarly maize which is the principle cereal used in ruminant rations is firm on the nearby market but looking much more competitive post harvest. Again it will be November before the new crop arrives in Ireland and the full cost saving passed through to livestock producers.

Commenting on these developments UFU President Harry Sinclair said:

"We met with representatives from the Northern Ireland Grain Trade Association last week to discuss the outlook for feed costs this winter in more detail. They informed us that it looked like that by mid to late autumn feed prices could ease as supplies across the world should become more available due to the larger forecast harvests. We also heard that the prices of some ingredients, such as soya, are now slightly cheaper in Northern Ireland than mainland GB which is welcome news for our livestock farmers."

A new initiative announced this month will recognise the competence of advisers working in the animal feed sector and also provide a structure for training and professional development.

Speaking at a recent seminar for fieldstaff employed by agricultural supply companies Robin Irvine of the Northern Ireland Grain Trade Association highlighted the importance of the advice and guidance provided in support of products supplied to farmers.

"Farming is supported by a wide range of professional advisors from agronomists to vets to feed advisers. Each plays an important role in delivering technical advice to support sustainable farming systems. Advisers help businesses to improve competitiveness and resource efficiency and are helping the agricultural industry deliver its environmental objectives.

"It has been calculated that throughout the UK there are 20,000 conversations every week between suppliers and farmer customers. These conversations will revolve around the use of products but often will involve discussions on farming techniques and husbandry.

"Many of our customers look to our sales and advisory staff for guidance on a range of issues - these advisers will often play a significant part in the management of particular client farms and will influence many of the decisions made.

"Our trade has been shown to be the principle disseminator of advice and information to farmers - hopefully this is all good advice - soundly based and bringing benefit to our customers.

"With the launch of FAR ( Feed Advisers Register) the feed industry now has an accepted standard of practice in this area - a qualification which has to be earned and maintained.

"The Register will recognise competence in a number of key areas and will also create a framework for Continuous Professional Development (CPD).

"This provides a structure for our staff to develop their skills and to add value to the business we do with our customers. It makes a significant statement of our commitment to the industry - in improving standards - in recognising and rewarding staff development - in supporting our customers in an area which is no longer covered by other agencies.

"The communication of the messages from Research & Development - from the scientist to the farmer - delivering the science and turning it into practical and commercial reality."

Details of The Feed Adviser Register (FAR) can be found at www.feedadviserregister.org.uk

Safe food was high on the agenda at the SDLP Agriculture Seminar held in Newry recently.

With a speakers panel including Gerry Mc Curdy, Food Standards Agency, Professor Chris Elliot, QUB and Professor Pat Wall from UCD, managing the risks to the food chain was a recurrent theme.

Pictured at the SDLP conference on Safe Food are Roger Sheahan, ABP; Professor Chris Elliott, Queens University; Robin Irvine and Garth Boyd, NIGTA; Professor Pat Wall, University College, Dublin and Gerry Mellotte, ABP. Photograph - Houston Green Photography, courtesy of Irish Farmers Journal.
Pictured at the SDLP conference on Safe Food are Roger Sheahan, ABP; Professor Chris Elliott, Queens University; Robin Irvine and Garth Boyd, NIGTA; Professor Pat Wall, University College, Dublin and Gerry Mellotte, ABP. Photograph - Houston Green Photography, courtesy of Irish Farmers Journal.

The NIGTA initiative to implement a Strategic, Risk Based Sampling system was welcomed.

The problems with horsemeat in beef products and with contaminated Maize from Serbia were cited as evidence of the cost of inadequate quality systems.

Following the recent tender and detailed selection process, AIC have awarded the contract for certification of the UFAS Scheme to PAI.

This will be effective from 1st September 2013 for a period of four years and it will involve a transition from SAI Global who have delivered the scheme since its inception.

The change will provide an opportunity for a much greater involvement by NI Food Chain Certification (NIFCC) in the local feed sector.