A new industry group has been set up to deal with the environmental problems facing outdoor pig production in the East of England, Pig World reports. The informal 'Swaffham group' has become a more formal forum, the Outdoor Pig Environmental Risk Reduction Programme, with a broader remit and stronger structure.
Its first meeting, in September, was chaired by Zanita Markham, sustainability and technical programmes manager at the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), with representatives of major pork businesses, the National Pig Association (NPA) and AHDB. Members discussed the need for a coordinated, evidence-based approach to environmental risks and opportunities. Markham said a key focus would be producing practical evidence to inform talks with government agencies and policymakers, and helping producers with emerging environmental requirements. The group will also work on trust and engagement with the Environment Agency and Natural England.
The Swaffham project began in 2016, when a rise in incidents linked to outdoor pig rearing and their possible effect on surface and ground water led AHDB to bring producers and water stakeholders together. Topics so far have included combining outdoor units with arable rotations, new environmental schemes, and grass swards and cover crops.
NPA chief executive Lizzie Wilson welcomed the cross-industry approach. "While outdoor pig production has a great story to tell, it is coming under increasing scrutiny," she said, adding that the group will identify and promote measures producers can take to reduce their impact. AHDB is preparing briefing materials, training proposals and templates, and further meetings are planned.
The report was written by Alistair Driver for Pig World.
Photo: Hugh Venables / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Source: Pig World
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