Defra pledges £3m fund for small abattoirs in England
© Shellygraphy/Adobe Stock Defra has promised £3m in additional support for new and mobile abattoirs in England through its Farming Investment Fund.
The commitment, made by prime minister Rishi Sunak at this week’s Farm to Fork summit, builds on the £4m Small Abattoir Fund, which was launched in December to provide grants to futureproof smaller red meat and poultry abattoirs in England.
The Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) said it was “delighted” by the announcement of £3m of additional support for small abattoirs.
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RBST chief executive Christopher Price said: “Without a network of local abattoirs able to process small numbers of non-standard animals, there is no sustainable livestock sector.
“The existing Small Abattoirs Fund is available to support existing operators, but we desperately need new abattoirs, too.
“This additional funding, which we understand is an extension of the current Added Value Grant, to support the establishment of new producer led abattoirs, is extremely welcome.”