New São Jorge Slaughterhouse symbolises opening of new cycle for regional meat sector, says Vasco Cordeiro
The Regional Government will invest about five million Euros in the construction of the new slaughterhouse on the island of São Jorge, an investment that the President of the Government considered a symbol of the opening of a new cycle for the regional meat production sector.
"With the construction of this slaughterhouse, we are opening of new cycle for the meat sector in our Region. The opening of this new cycle is based on what has been the path we have been following over the last years" in terms of quantity and quality, said Vasco Cordeiro, who spoke at the presentation of the project for the new industrial unit to be built on São Jorge.
The Government has invested about 15 million Euros in the modernisation and expansion of the regional slaughter network. In this context, two new slaughterhouses have been built from scratch, one on Faial, opened in 2018, and another on Graciosa, opened in 2019, in addition to the remodelling and expansion works in the slaughterhouses on the islands of Terceira and São Miguel.
According to him, the figures are "particularly enlightening," both in terms of how the Government regards the potential of this sector but, above all, in terms of "farmers' response capacity to the tools placed at their disposal."
"Between 2012 and 2016, the average slaughter of cattle in the Region stood at almost 60 thousand. In the last three years, this annual average has risen to more than 70 thousand. About 63 percent of beef is exported, which clearly evidences the strength and dynamics of this activity," stressed the President of the Government.
On the second day of the Regional Government's visit to São Jorge, Vasco Cordeiro stressed that, despite this journey, it is important to be aware that not everything has been solved. We should take into account that it is necessary "to pay permanent attention as to the best way to make the sector more dynamic, harness all its potentialities and turn this dynamic into income for farmers."
There are steps that have been already taken, such as the exploration of new markets, the conciliation between all partners in this sector, through the Regional Strategy Centre for Azores Meat- CERCA, and the certification of the slaughter network in terms of quality and food safety, assured the President of the Government. In this context, the construction of the new São Jorge Slaughterhouse reflects the dynamics of this sector in the Region.
According to Vasco Cordeiro, the construction of the slaughterhouse is, therefore, a decision already taken, and now its project will be submitted to the analysis of local partners on the island of São Jorge.
"We will be able to move forward with the construction of this work by the beginning of the next Community Support Framework, already in 2021, given its importance for the island of São Jorge and for the Region," said Vasco Cordeiro.
"Regarding the slaughter of cattle, São Jorge is the island that has grown the most in terms of percentage. This fact is one of the best motivations that can be given to move forward with this work," said the President of the Government.
In a multipurpose structure, the São Jorge Slaughterhouse will fulfil all the requirements demanded by national and Community norms in order to fully comply with the technological, health and environmental standards.
It will have a slaughter capacity of 15 to 20 bovines or 20 pigs/hour, a refrigeration system with a cooling capacity of 63 tonnes and a cutting room with a processing capacity of 12 bovine carcasses or 25 pigs per day.
Additionally, this slaughterhouse will have a freezing tunnel for the cutting room and a freezing room.
The new São Jorge Slaughterhouse will also be equipped with an industrial wastewater treatment unit, thus safeguarding safety requirements and reducing its environmental impact.