Northern Ireland’s Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) wants to further develop the range of services it offers the beef and lamb sectors.

In turn, this raises the issue of how the organisation can be best funded into the future.

With this in mind LMC has embarked on a series of engagement opportunities with stakeholder organisations representing all aspects of red meat production in NI.

The first of these took place at the recent Balmoral Show.

LMC chief executive, Colin Smith commented: “The significance of the event was reflected in the tremendous turnout of influencers, where issues relating to policy related matters that impact on livestock farming and processing are concerned.”

LMC is funded through the levy paid by beef and sheep farmers, which is matched in equal measure by contributions made by Northern Ireland’s red meat processors.

The Balmoral Show briefing provided LMC representatives with the opportunity to highlight the scope of the services it delivers on behalf of the beef and sheep sectors.

However, it also provided a platform for LMC to inform stakeholders on how the commission can evolve into the future and how best this can be paid for.

Currently LMC provides a number of services, where Northern Ireland’s beef and lamb industries are concerned.

These include the marketing and promotion of locally-produced farm quality-assured beef and lamb on both home and export markets.

LMC also helps to secure new markets for beef and lamb and delivers opportunities to educate school children on the role of farm quality-assured beef and lamb in a balanced diet.

“LMC is at the very centre of the entire quality assurance project that underpins so much in regard to the production and welfare standards achieved across our entire red meat sector," Smith added.

In addition, LMC has been an important contributor to the debate that has underpinned the evolution of the farm support measures made available to the beef and sheep industries, post-Brexit.

“The commission needs a sustainable funding model for the future. And this is an issue that we hope to discuss with all relevant stakeholder bodies during the period ahead," Smith said.

“It will be part of an engagement that looks at the opportunities that exist to widen the footprint of Northern Ireland’s beef and lamb sectors.”