This AHDB Food and Farming podcast follows part of a visit that The British Embassy in Washington recently undertook, as part of a four-day agriculture trade mission to the UK. The delegation of US officials visited the UK, to understand more about UK food and farming in all its glory.

AHDB's John Bates tagged along for part of the programme when the delegation visited two livestock farms in Gloucestershire, and he got to ask our American friends some questions.

We also hear from beef farmer, David Barton and sheep farmer, Richard Gale, both in Gloucestershire. AHDB's Phil Hadley also summarises the benefits of trade missions with other countries and why it's important for AHDB to be facilitating discussions.  

The purpose of the visit was to demonstrate UK food and drink sector, and our sectors, given our current access status for beef and pork (export value £11m and £24M respectively in 2021) and the new opportunity for lamb. While of course the UK wants to showcase our quality products, the US delegates are also here to meet with US/UK gov officials to explore opportunities for reciprocal trade, inc meat/poultry, and the delegates are from key Ag states, inc Colorado (lamb feeding capital and dense beef production/kill). The learnings will feed back into the ongoing discussions between UK/US on an future FTA, of which, ag will be a challenging subject area.

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