Global Beef Industry Conference to be held in Kilkenny

Key stakeholders from across the European beef industry will gather in Kilkenny on 10th October to launch the European Roundtable for Beef Sustainability (ERBS). The Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) will be a four-day conference co-sponsored by Dawn Meats and hosted by Bord Bia. It is expected to bring delegates from Australia, New Zealand, South America, Canada, the United States and South Africa to Kilkenny.

The ERBS will be made up of multiple stakeholders demonstrating the important role the beef sector plays in the food chain, and will focus on improvements in sustainability across all aspects of the European beef value chain, from farm to fork. Dawn Meats has worked with its partners in the SAI Platform’s Beef Working Group over the last two years, chairing the technical work of the group and developing the principles and practices for beef sustainability to bring the ERBS into being.

The conference will focus on four key priority areas: greenhouse gas emissions, animal health and welfare, animal medicines and farm management. These priority areas were identified through engagement with more than 150 stakeholders across Europe and will be reviewed regularly to ensure they remain relevant and are being adequately addressed.

SAI Platform’s Beef Working Group Lead, Patricia García-Díaz commented that she hopes the conference in Kilkenny will be a "catalyst for change" in the industry.  

Dawn Meats Group Agriculture Manager Sarah Haire echoed this sentiment, saying; “We are delighted to launch the European Roundtable for Beef Sustainability and have been actively engaged with member organisations across Europe over the last 24 months in agreeing common sustainability priorities. Together we can make a difference.”