Meat Industry Excellence (MIE) has blamed "patch protection", farmer apathy and a rural media campaign against it for a decision to go into recess.
"It has been disheartening that meat co-operative directors, Beef + Lamb NZ, Federated Farmers, Government and the organisations farmers trust to show leadership and direction have fought to stifle all MIE's efforts to create a bright future for NZ meat farmers," MIE chairman Dave McGaveston said in a statement announcing the organisation was halting its campaign to improve meat returns.
Beef + Lamb NZ allocated $220,000 for MIE to produce its Pathways to Long Term Sustainability Report, exposing serious inefficiencies and identifying opportunities from procurement and processing.
MEI promoted the election of directors on to the Silver Fern Farms and Alliance co-operative boards with the expectation they would support MIE objectives of keeping meat processing in NZ farmers' hands.
Mr McGaveston said farmers invested in the Pathways report and should have expected to have their investment enhanced by embracing the opportunities identified.