Jiglu: Farmtalking: Discussion: RE: Article on FMD Vaccine.

Originally from: Pat Gardiner

Hi Chris

I'd like to reply.

a) We have to learn to live with scares. They are not going to go away and some may be justified. Indeed, you could say that the whole organics movement is the result of one large "scare."

Scares usually are the result of scientists publicising genuine research in an effort to secure funding. They will not stop.

We have to learn to handle them.

b) Taken in the overall scheme of things, it is important not to over emphasise the importance of exports. They are very important to a small group of companies who not unnaturally emphasise their importance to the industry as a whole.

We need to be much more sceptical of their total value. For example, live exports antagonise the vast majority of farming's fellow citizens. Live exports damage farmers and farming. You don't even have to feel strongly on animal welfare grounds to realise that.

That said, I really do not believe that the use of milk products from a vaccinated herd in confectionary is likely to damage exports. Tell 'em that's how it is going to be – and they will accommodate themselves to the reality.

There is, in my opinion too much stakeholder consultation with the multinationals and traders – and too little with anyone else. They have too much influence to the detriment of everyone else. Government's job is to control them, not pander to their every whim.

There are too many levies and too many subsidies going to too many quangos. These people suck farming dry.

To take your last point. It is a very important one. You have to be very careful not to take on a marketing expert and tell him how to do the job. You can use the office boy if you want to do that.

Many marketing experts, if told how to do the job, will keep their employer happy and have an easy ride, and allow the marketing to go to pot. I've made that mistake. It is very hard to dislike someone that agrees with you.

The best marketing man will almost certainly make his employers wince, but do the job. If you want vaccinated products accepted, get a proven professional who understands multinationals from the inside and give him that task alone.

A retired man/woman with a sympathy to small farming, animal welfare or organic production would do it for nought in six weeks without even mounting a public campaign. (err. no, not me, I'm not applying.) He/she will quickly find the blocking point and arrange to remove it.

Frankly, it is a piece of cake. You have an excellant case.

Regards Pat Gardiner
www.go-self-sufficient.com

-----Original Message-----
From: ...
Originally from: ... [...] Sent: 15 August 2003 11:27
To: ...
Subject: Re: [farmtalking] Article on FMD Vaccine.
Pat,
The two-fold problem is
a) persuading uk producers not to generate scares, and consumers that there is nothing to be scared of, and
b) finding a mechanism that will disable or deal with the danger to the large
exporting companies arising from their overseas consumers potential perception of the risk.
This latter basically entails reassuring every global citizen of the safety of UK vaccinated product – not feasible. How are we going to go about this? I
have discussed this with a rep of the Dairy Industries Association, and he himself ruled out compensation for lost markets as impractical – too open to abuse, an open cheque.
What about some sort of co-responsibility levy, imposed as a percentage on all who trade in animal products, to set up a fund to deal with this; perhaps
after a certain amount of comp. companies could take out insurance, find other
markets, produce less, store more, adapt or take a minor loss for a time. After
all, only the farmer, vet and a few others actually deal with the living creatures; to everyone further up the food chain after the abbatoir, meat, sausage, bacon, milk, custard, quiche etc. is just a product open to full market
forces like everything else – nature red in tooth and claw, if you can't stand the
heat get out of the kitchen, etc, etc.
I have the choice to leave the kitchen or not , our domesticated livestock don't, nor can they speak, vote or petition. I believe that it is incumbent on
us to act in a responsible manner towards them. Perhaps the RSPCA could promote
such a levy, of say 0.5% – enough to accumalate funds without wreaking havoc in the economy. I know farmers are supported in many ways, but the consuming public cannot wash their hands of what happens in their name, determined by their elected representatives to put their food on their plate- the consumer, via
a purchasing decision, is responsible for the method of production (obviously
the poor have less choice).
I think your idea of asking a top businessman to front a campaign could be useful; I suspect that at some point he/she would also need support from the
'ethical sector' -CIWF, Soil Association, BDAA, an omniverous rock-star or two, Prince Charles (ideally), not to mention a galaxy of politicians, chefs,
MEP;s, etc to raise the profile. This would have to be presented as a difficult
technical exercise opted for because ethically (and scientifically) progressive (as well as hopefully cheaper, cleaner, quicker, less damaging to all and
sundry).
Actual work calls, must go,
Chris.
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