By Kerry Maxwell, communications manager, British Poultry Council
The start of the year has brought further outbreaks of avian influenza, adding real pressure to an already difficult operating environment for poultry meat producers. Avian influenza is no longer an occasional disruption. It is a persistent risk sits alongside other pressures, including planning delays and UK-EU trade friction, and continues to test business continuity and confidence across the supply chain.
We continue to work closely with Government to control the spread of the disease. Vigilance remains critical. Early detection and rapid reporting are essential to limiting spread and protecting both animal health and the wider industry. Every bird keeper has a role to play in maintaining strong biosecurity and acting quickly when signs of disease are suspected.
But avian influenza also highlights a wider issue. Food production is often treated as background noise – something that simply happens until it doesn’t. Poultry accounts for around half of the meat eaten in the UK, supported by tens of thousands of jobs and supply chains that deliver safe and affordable protein every day. When outbreaks disrupt those systems, the consequences are felt quickly.
In our recent Annual Report, ‘Britain’s Critical Food Infrastructure,’ we set out the operating conditions the sector depends on: space to function and grow, a recognised and well-supported workforce, and supply chains that can move food efficiently. Those themes matter even more in moments like this.
Managing avian influenza is not only about responding to outbreaks; it is about ensuring the foundations of production are strong enough to absorb shock.
Ours is a sector that has shown it can respond under pressure. The task now is to ensure it is supported in a way that recognises food production as essential infrastructure – not optional – and capable of withstanding the challenges that are no longer exceptional but expected.