Mr. James Healy:

There are several threats, of which I am sure the committee is well aware. Changes in dietary patterns and trade deals under discussion are obvious threats to the beef industry. Our young beef farmers have also expressed their concerns at the unprecedented amount of information that is being spun in such a way as to attack agriculture. We accept that agriculture must put its shoulder to the wheel and contribute to addressing the carbon emissions which are driving climate change. However, organisations that choose to compare apples and oranges to support their argument and use images from farms on a different side of the planet do nothing to aid the spirit of collaboration that is required to address these issues. Beef farmers want to maintain their social licence to farm and we need to do more to inform the consumer on key facts such as our current status as the fifth in Europe in carbon footprint by quantity of beef produced.