Mapping a brighter future for vets in the food chain
The multi-stakeholder Veterinary Development Council (VDC) today publishes its report setting out practical ways to help the veterinary profession meet the demands of the UK food sector in the future.
The VDC was established in January 2011 following a recommendation in Professor Lowe’s report ‘Unlocking Potential’ in 2009 that a development council be set up to guide the long-term development of veterinary services. The Council brought together representatives from across the whole food supply chain for the first time: veterinary surgeons, regulators, government, producers, processors, retailers, the veterinary schools, and the veterinary pharmaceutical industry.
The VDC identified key areas to address and established three Working Groups to carry out detailed work and report to the Council focusing on: The Role of the Vet-led Team, Business Models, and Food Industry Engagement.
Amongst its eleven key recommendations, the VDC calls for the following:
- More detailed consultation with the veterinary profession to assess the appetite for allowing technicians to undertake specified veterinary service activities (such as blood sampling, disbudding and tuberculin testing) under veterinary direction, and an exploration of the regulatory and legislative requirements for any desired changes (recommendations i-iii);
- Increased business education in UK veterinary schools and a structured programme of training, consultancy and mentoring to encourage veterinary practices to think strategically about how their businesses operate, to consider whether changing how they ‘do business’ would be beneficial and to share good practice examples of successful innovations (recommendations iv-vi);
- Veterinary schools should encourage early and continued recognition amongst veterinary students of the importance of the role of the vet in supplying high quality, safe and nutritious food. The food and farming industries, the veterinary profession and veterinary education/training establishments should explore opportunities for a food supply chain career development path for veterinary graduates (recommendations viii and x);
- Working with industry, the Government should actively consider animal health and welfare when deciding detailed priorities for the future programme to be funded under the Rural Development Regulation, including consideration of a Farm Animal (Health and) Welfare Stewardship Programme (recommendation xi).
The VDC was independently chaired by Professor Richard Bennett, Professor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Reading. Commenting on the report, Professor Bennett said:
“The veterinary profession has a key and changing role to play in the provision of high quality, safe, nutritious and affordable food for the population and in protecting the health and welfare of farm animals. There are many demands on the veterinarian from the food supply chain and an increasing challenge to adapt the provision of veterinary services to meet those demands as effectively and efficiently as possible.
“The aim of the VDC has been to identify practical ways in which this adaptation by the veterinary profession might be supported. We look forward to seeing how the BVA and other stakeholders respond to our recommendations, and how consideration of the future development of the provision of veterinary services is taken forward.”
Carl Padgett, President of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), said:
“The VDC’s major success has been in bringing together representatives from across the whole spectrum of the food industry to try to map out a positive future for farm animal veterinary practice.
“It is essential that we identify and seize opportunities in the wider food chain and ensure our profession remains viable and relevant to our clients. Vets are highly valued by both farmers and government but we can always do more and I look forward to taking the VDC’s recommendations forward with other stakeholders.”
Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer Alick Simmons, said:
“Defra is pleased that such a wide range of stakeholders were brought together under the umbrella of the VDC to consider the future direction of the veterinary profession and make recommendations.
“We look forward to continuing to work with the profession and other interested parties as discussions on the future development of provision of veterinary services make progress.”
Catherine McLaughlin, Animal Health and Welfare Policy Adviser at the NFU, said:
“Farmers rely on their private vet and the veterinary profession to help them achieve their animal health and welfare commitments. The VDC has had a very important task over the last 18 months and these recommendations should help a profession filled with highly skilled, passionate individuals to understand and develop the professional requirement that our members will expect of them in the future.”
Peter Jinman, Senior Vice President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, said:
“I would like to thank Richard Bennett for leading the VDC to the production of this report. It is vital that we take time to consider how some of the recommendations, particularly in terms of adding to the already-crowded undergraduate curriculum, can be taken forward.
“Exemption Orders ultimately rest with Defra, but the College will consider the challenge of how best to ensure that all of those who deal with animal health and welfare are properly trained and regulated, recognising the particular requirements of the food production environment and public health.”
The full report is available at http://www.bva.co.uk/public/documents/VDC-Report-2011-2012-May-2012.pdf and further information on the VDC (including membership, meetings and presentations) is available at www.bva.co.uk/vdc
Funding for the independent chairman was provided by Defra and BVA provided the secretariat and administration.
‘Unlocking Potential: A report on veterinary expertise in food animal production’ is available via the Defra website: http://archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/policy/animalhealth/vservices/pdf/lowe-vets090806.pdf The recommendation for a Veterinary Development Council is on pages 76-77
