Meat Forum

The Meat Forum took place at the national Parliament House with representatives of the public and private sectors. The President of the Republic José Mujica declared that this Forum is a good message for the country.

“The history began with leather, and we have taken great benefit of cattle ever since”, the President stressed.

The floor was taken by the Minister of Livestock Tabaré Aguerre, by the Minister of Industry Roberto Kreimerman, by the Minister of Work Eduardo Brenta, and by representatives of the Parliament, the National Labor Union (PIT CNT), processing plants and farmers.

Representatives of all sectors filled the room and followed the stages of discussion of the different tables during the day.

The Minister of Industry emphasized the importance of generating a perspective about the sector that includes environment-friendly technology, considering the environment is the main national wealth.

The Minister of Livestock Tabaré Aguerre remarked the fact that the meat topic is present in the scope of democratic discussion in the national parliament.

“We were livestock farmers before we became a nation” the Minister recalled. He put stress on the meat world demand, especially on the red protein demand, with sustained prices. Aguerre said that for the country to develop, it is necessary to seek for institutional arrangements that capture savings and allocate them to viable production systems.

Speaking of an agro intelligent country entails considering social balance, and the projection of future competitiveness that is not only related with pregnancies.

It means considering added value, workers' intelligence, genetics, quality, environment safety and also information. Also discussing social distribution of wealth, Minister Aguerre stressed.

In turn, the Minister of Work made reference to the use of the unemployment insurance in the meat sector. He asked the private sectors for an additional effort for the collective agreement as well as efforts regarding training of employees.

The President of INAC, Alfredo Fratti, highlighted that Uruguay ranks first in international meat prices, having achieved the goal of selling at higher prices than all its competitors.

On behalf of farmers, Guzmán Tellechea said that the effort to generate awareness could be wasted by confrontation and this would give advantage to our competitors. The parliament is the right place to approach this topic, he said, and hoped new instances like this one are organized in the future.

On behalf of processing plants, Alberto González remarked the good number of attendees and spoke of improving the path covered for 400 years of livestock breeding, which involves technology, animal health and production.

Richard Read from PIT CNT (National Labor Union) said the weakest sector cannot celebrate prosperity because it is the weakest point. He called for a discussion of the causes of unemployment insurance use and of the idle capacity of plants.