Mexican pork industry team visits UK
Representatives from the Mexican livestock industry will be learning more about the UK’s pork sector when they arrive in the country later this week.
The six-day mission was organised by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and the Department for International Trade (DIT) in Mexico, to help promote UK pork for this market.
During the visit, Mexican delegates will tour farms, processors, supermarkets and a leading pig farming and genetics specialist.
The programme will also include a day at the Great Yorkshire Show, where the group will have an opportunity to meet with several stakeholders from the farming sector.
Among the delegation are veterinarians from the state of Jalisco, a major retailer from the north of the country and Mexican media – who will all get a chance to see first-hand the entire pork production process from farm to fork.
According to USDA figures, Mexico was the eight-largest consumer of pork as a nation in 2018 and the tenth largest pork producer.
AHDB senior export manager Susana Morris said the visit presents an “incredible opportunity”.
“This is a fantastic chance to highlight the quality of our product and underline our high animal welfare, strict control of antibiotic use, world-leading assurance schemes and, of course, the exceptional taste and texture of our pork.
“As well as visiting retailers and farms, we will also provide an overview of our work in genetics for breeding purposes and exchange best practices with our visitors.
“Mexico is a significant market for our pork trade and we are in progressive discussions with the Mexican authorities regarding market access for pork. Last year, the country imported almost a million tonnes of pig meat, excluding offal – with the lion’s share coming from the US.”
Last August AHDB’s export team attended the XVII National Pig Meeting in Puebla de Zaragoza, to learn about innovations in the pork sector, with a view to creating future opportunities for exports to Mexico and learn more about the marketplace.
