Increasing profit margins at farm level will be the focus of the high-level beef summit taking place in Dublin today (Thursday), the Irish Farmers Journal has learned.

Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney last week called a meeting of the 30 most influential people in the beef trade. The three main beef processors – ABP, Dawn and Kepak – have confirmed their attendance along with groups such as Teagasc, the ICBF, Bord Bia and the farm organisations. Minister Coveney has promised to “bang the heads” of those in the room to help alleviate the crisis.

The Department of Agriculture is understood to be working on a range of measures that will deliver increased price transparency to farmers and improved market intelligence.

There are also plans to implement a targeted marketing campaign for Irish beef in Britain and across continental EU with the increased investment totalling €500,000. This will be rolled out by Bord Bia.

A blueprint for an improved communication strategy between stakeholders is also being developed by the Department and will be presented at the meeting.

We understand that this will involve four meetings each year, with the Minister for Agriculture chairing at least two of these meetings.

The need to improve technical efficiency at farm level is also likely to come under the spotlight, with plans to target support at key areas through the TAMS scheme. The role of Teagasc in developing an efficient blueprint for the suckler-to-beef sector is also understood to be on the agenda.

Speaking ahead of the crunch meeting, IFA president Eddie Downey said: “The Minister must engage and stay with the process until the very real issues that are impacting on the livestock sector are fully addressed.”

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Meat Industry Ireland (MII) said the beef processing industry will be engaging positively in the roundtable event initiated by the Minister.

The spokesman said: “Concerns in relation to the maintenance of the suckler herd have to be addressed but the answers are not solely in the marketplace or in price – production efficiency has a major role to play too.”

Regarding communications between factories and farmers, he said:

“Perhaps the most important outcome of the roundtable is that it leads to ongoing engagement between stakeholders on tackling the challenges for the sector at farm, processing and market levels, and improved communication based on facts and reality.”