We are urgently developing research requirements with other European laboratories to make sure we understand and the disease (Schmallenberg) better.Shoppers not responding to climate change
THE threat of climate change has not influenced the majority of people in the way they buy their food, a survey carried out for BPEX and EBLEX has revealed.
And fewer than half the 2,018 people questioned as part of a YouGov survey on consumer attitudes to climate change believed the farming industry should invest in cutting its emissions.
The survey also found that only 26 per cent would reduce red meat consumption if it meant cutting CO2 emissions; more than 30 per cent of consumers were not concerned about CO2 emissions from animals; and more than 50 per cent did not want to see more imports of red meat, even if that meant cutting carbon emissions.
BPEX head of marketing Chris Lamb said the survey results provided a ‘valuable insight’ to gain a better understanding of consumers, while EBLEX head of trade development Peter Hardwick said climate change remained a ‘very important’ issue for the red meat sector, even though it ‘doesn’t seem to be top of the agenda as far as consumers are concerned’.
“As an industry we have Government targets to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 11 per cent by 2020. Efforts to reach these targets go hand in hand with greater efficiencies and better returns for producers.”
