ORGANISERS of Great British Beef Week say it is more important than ever for the public to support the beef industry.

British Beef Week is spearheaded by Ladies in Beef whose co-founder Jilly Greed called on farmers, producers and beef lovers to join the celebrations during the week from April 1 to April 7 and help increase the global love for British beef.

She said: "There are so many uncertainties in farming right now; British beef farmers need your support more than ever. British beef is an important part of the global diet because of its quality and its nutritional and environmental health benefits.

"It's important to the UK economy too, with the beef and veal industries worth around £3bn. Around 475,000 people are employed in farming in the UK."

Now in its ninth year the campaign will promote Red Tractor assured thin cut beef steaks using internationally-themed recipes to encourage shoppers to try a beef-based dish. Events during the week will also raise money for farming charity RABI, who gave more than £2.2m to farming people in financial need in 2018.

Mrs Greed said: "We’d like shoppers to know that British-farmed beef is good for the environment, with 47 per cent of the UK’s many breeds of cattle managed on our mountains, moorlands, marshlands and wetland meadows. This grassland increases the absorption of carbon from the atmosphere and has been grazed for thousands of years. Livestock farming is an established part of our history.

“Beef is also a nutritionally valuable part of a balanced diet, being naturally rich in protein. It contains haem iron which is easily absorbed and provides eight vitamins and minerals which contribute towards good health and wellbeing. Let’s make sure that beef is known as an important and healthy part of the global diet.”

Farmers and others who want to support Great British Beef Week can download material at www.ladiesinbeef.org.uk.