On Wednesday at the Welsh Senedd Economy Trade and Rural Affairs (ETRA) Committee meeting this week, Nick Allen, CEO of the British Meat Processors Association delivered some stark warnings about the future of the red meat industry in Wales.
Collectively, companies like Kepak, Dawn Dunbia, and Pilgrims process approximately 95% of the nation’s beef and lamb, employing some 3,000 people and contributing over half a billion pounds to the Welsh economy. When added value is included, the true economic contribution is closer to £1 billion. But that contribution is under threat.
The Welsh sheep sector has seen one of the sharpest drops in breeding numbers across the UK. Figures from Defra show a 4.2% year-on-year decrease in the female breeding flock in Wales alone. For processors, this isn’t just a statistic; it’s an existential challenge. Fewer animals through abattoirs threaten the viability of the entire supply chain from feed suppliers and marts to vets and hauliers.
“We’re managing a decline,” Allen told the committee. “Schemes supposedly introduced to support farming practices are, in fact, working against what Wales should be doing.” He added that “Big investors and employers in Wales are incredibly concerned about the future: more than concerned, I’d say incredibly depressed about what the future holds.”
In his written evidence, Allen challenged the Welsh Government’s current trajectory, which appears to favour reducing livestock numbers in pursuit of net zero goals, without adequately addressing the knock-on impacts on food security, jobs, tourism, and the rural economy.
“This is not an either/or situation,” he said. “Climate change and food production must be treated as two sides of the same coin.”
Wales is uniquely suited to sustainable livestock production. With its abundant pasture and rainfall, and a track record of reducing emissions through efficiency gains, the country has a credible case for livestock farming as part of the climate solution. Reducing livestock here, only to import meat from regions with poorer environmental standards, risks undermining that progress.
Nick Allen also pointed to the broader value of the red meat sector. Beyond its economic footprint, Welsh meat plays a central role in national identity and tourism noting that “Eight out of ten visitors to Wales say they come looking forward to eating locally produced food—and are willing to pay more for it.”
Internationally, the Welsh meat brand is a powerful export asset, helping to promote Wales not just as a source of quality food, but as a travel destination.
BMPA is calling for a more balanced approach from the Welsh Government that supports climate action while also safeguarding food production and rural livelihoods. The current path, Allen warned, risks driving investment away from Wales, weakening the supply chain, and increasing reliance on imported meat with higher carbon footprints.
There is still time to shift course and adopt a strategy that supports sustainable growth rather than managed decline. But that will require listening to those on the ground—farmers, processors, and rural communities—and recognising that a resilient food system is fundamental to a greener future.
We are the UKs largest trade body for the meat industry and provide expert advice on trade issues, bespoke technical advice and access to government policy makers
We are proud to count businesses of all sizes and specialties as members. They range from small, family run abattoirs serving local customers to the largest meat processing companies responsible for supplying some of our best-loved brands to shops and supermarkets.
We are further strengthened by our associate Members who work in industries that support and supply our meat processing companies.
We are the voice of the British meat industry.
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