Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney is coming under increasing pressure regarding the proposed joint venture between ABP and Slaney Foods.

On Monday, Minister Coveney provided a statement to farmersjournal.ie setting out his intention to write to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) outlining the “significant concern amongst farmers”.

Concentration

ICSA beef chair Edmond Phelan said he is “deeply disturbed” about the potential of further concentration of the beef and sheepmeat processing capabilities in Ireland.

The Irish Farmers Journal understands that ABP is also progressing moves into the higher-value beef proteins powder sector.

Similar to dairy whey protein powder, beef protein powder is used in athlete nutrition.

The product is understood to be in its infancy and is perhaps at research and development stage.