Research Brief 1 - Transparency in the beef and sheep meat food systems enables agency and fairness.

An unprecedented set of challenges now confronts livestock food systems in Britain. With household budgets being squeezed, producers, processors, retailers and wholesalers are under increasing pressure to maintain the affordability of their products despite rising input costs. At the same time, the need to achieve and demonstrate high standards in environmental sustainability, animal health and welfare, and nutritional quality only adds to the difficulties. Meanwhile, uncertainties over potential future trading, legal and political arrangements following the UK’s departure from the EU represent a yet further layer of complexity.

A research project focused on beef and sheep production and marketing systems in Great Britain led by the University of Hertfordshire and the Royal Veterinary College, has been looking at how the sector might maintain and improve its economic, social and environmental sustainability in the face of these multiple challenges. A key issue being explored is the degree to which lack of transparency at various levels of the value chain is hindering the agency of key actors and undermining the value of consumer labels in meeting sustainability, animal welfare, and nutritional objectives.

In this research briefing, we discuss our work on transparency and relationships in beef and sheep meat food systems and how they might be improved, enabling agency and fairness for all actors involved, from producers through to end consumers.