In response to Farming Minister, Mark Spencer’s announcement on the 13th December 2023, Keith Halstead, Executive Director of The Royal Countryside Fund said: “The Royal Countryside Fund welcomes this new grant programme for smaller abattoirs, which was one of the recommendations in our 2021 report on the red meat supply chain, All on the Table.
Reducing the burden of increasing costs and regulation on smaller abattoirs, whilst maintaining world class food safety and security, will help support Britain’s farmers, particularly smaller-scale producers. This new grant programme will contribute to the future of sustainable, high welfare farming and bolster local food and rural economies.”