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Rob Wills and Henry Lewis from BLG report
The Farma exhibition is the successor to the
long-established Polagra, held annually at the
Poznan showgrounds, Poland. The organisers rejigged
the event with less machinery in 2007 to
establish other events and in doing so, reduced
its scope and unfortunately it doesn’t now have
the audience of Polagra, reports Henry. With a
crowded international show season in the autumn there were
three clashing events –
AgroBalt in nearby Lithuania, Sommet d’Elevage
in France and the massive World Dairy Expo in
USA which had a big Polish delegation. (This
latter event was also supported by BLG with
Rob, as ever, coordinating things; it attracts a
global cattle breeding audience and is as
important to us for beef breeding leads as for
dairy.)
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| Simmental Stand at Farma 2008 |
Government TAP funding was available for
qualifying exhibitors, managed by Overseas Fairs,
associates of Birmingham Chamber.
Developing business, promoting ourselves:
David Bell and Rob Evans were the flag-bearers
for Simmentals at this event (welcoming me to
share their stand); the exhibitors in the British
group represented the four home countries and
included the following breeds: British Blonde,
British Blue, Highland, Limousin. BLG was also
representing QMS.
Poland is one of the major livestock producing
countries in the EU and a good trade has
developed from Britain. It was important for the
livestock sector to ‘show its face’ again in this
important market – following-on as it did from
the previous edition when Britain was in the
aftermath of the FMD virus leak in Surrey and
the arrival of Bluetongue virus in Eastern England. Being in
the EU, full export
certification was restored in late 2007 for EU
markets.
The sector has invested strongly in developing
links with the Polish breeders and a great
bonus is the help received from Simon Gill and
his connections, particularly the partnership
being forged with the Polish Beef Association
and their programmes. The British group were
housed next to them and near the show beef
cattle, but we were not sited in the most
accessible part of the showground – a pity as
it affected ‘foot fall.’
Looking ahead:
The next edition of Farma is scheduled for 2 to
4 October 2009; and again, there will be TAP
support via Birmingham Chamber to help
exhibitors. This year there is some good
additional funding to help raise the British
profile. Poznan, well served by air
communications to the British Isles, is a
pleasant town with a large student population,
contributing to a lively atmosphere and a good supply of
exhibition support staff, reports Henry! Do get involved!
OPPORTUNITIES IN 2009
The message that rings out loud and clear is that there is
a
market for YOUR product, whether it be livestock, semen
or embryos. With the fall of the pound against the Euro,
dollar and other currencies we can be truly competitive at
last, especially in emerging eastern European countries
where the Simmental dominates.
Our sector, so neglected by those
in power that have not favoured food security, self-sufficiency
or primary industries (from which wealth and skills develop)
can actually help address our horrid balance of payments
deficit and the burst bubble of reliance on ‘invisible’
earnings.
Exhibition support:
One area where the Government has helped British
business (albeit at lower levels than previously) is help to
exporters through the excellent team of UKTI personnel in
our Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates, also
through various support schemes, including the Trade
Access Programme (TAP), where grants are available for
participating at exhibitions overseas. Rates vary with
events. TAP could stand for Travel and Promote (your
business)!
The events that might appeal to the cattle
sector in 2009-10 are:
Beef 2009 in Rockhampton, Queensland,
Australia in
May;
China Agricultural Association Show in Beijing, China
in May;
Agrofarm in Moscow, Russia in May ;
VIV Russia in Moscow, Russia
the next
week in May!
VIV Turkey in Istanbul in June;
Ildex in Ho
Chi Minh City, Vietnam in July;
ExpoInter in Porto Alegre, Brazil
in August;
Livestock Asia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in
September;
Farma in Poznan, Poland in October;
IndAgra in Bucharest, Romania
in
November;
AgriHort in Kiev, Ukraine in February 2010
Use us!
The BLG website has links to these events.
Anyone interested in participating at these
or other, unlisted events should contact BLG
immediately; we are here to help, advise and
guide. Do check to see the export
certification position before you get too
committed!
For more about BLG and the
latest on Export certification keep in touch
with our website www.britishlivestockgenetics.com or
contact us through blg@britishlivestockgenetics.com |
