Diverse Transformations in Market, Policy, and Technology

Europe: Coexistence of Market Challenges and Policy Support

The pig farming industry in Italy has faced a severe crisis in recent years. According to a report in Il Sole 24 Ore on April 30, within five years since 2014, due to the heavy blows of declining consumption, competition from Spain, and price factors, 9,000 pig farms in Italy have closed, with an average of 4 closures per day. In March, the pork price dropped to a record low of only 1.1 euros per kilogram, a 26% decrease compared to 2017. Italian agricultural experts point out that the pork sales price needs to reach at least 1.6 euros per kilogram to cover production costs and allow farmers to make a slight profit. Facing this crisis, representatives of the farming industry actively applied to the government for an emergency meeting to seek solutions. On the eve of Easter, the government held the first meeting. Subsequently, the Italian Farmers' Confederation promoted the passage of an agricultural emergency decree in the House of Representatives regarding the economic support amendment for the pork industry. The government will allocate 5 million euros to support the industry within two years.

At the same time, the pig farming industry in the Netherlands demonstrates the characteristics of technology and sustainable development. As a major agricultural country in the world, the Netherlands has achieved remarkable results in animal husbandry, and the pig farming industry is an important part of it. Due to the implementation of a national plan to reduce ammonia emissions in animal husbandry, from 2013 to 2019, the number of pig farms in the Netherlands decreased by 12%, and the scale of live pig inventory also declined. However, Dutch pork is famous worldwide for its high quality. The average annual lean meat production of sows is high, the average annual litter size exceeds the average level in Europe and America, and the mortality rate of weaned piglets is much lower than the EU average. This benefits from the advanced technologies in the entire pig farming chain in the Netherlands, such as innovations in nutrition, lighting, barns, transportation, and other aspects. For example, Dutch farmer Kees Scheepens independently designed a system to train pigs to use a "pig toilet", reducing ammonia pollution and improving the breeding environment. In addition, the Dutch Pork Production Organization Alliance (POV) has played an important role. This alliance is committed to researching and applying new technologies, helping the industry adapt to laws and regulations, and representing farmers to voice their opinions, promoting the technological progress and sustainable development of the Dutch pig farming industry.

Asia: Technological Innovation Leads the Development Trend

In Asia, many countries are actively exploring smart pig farming technologies. In South Korea, some local governments, farmers, and media have been conducting frequent exchanges with the outside world recently, deeply understanding the latest technologies and application achievements in the global smart pig farming field, and focusing on introducing intelligent pig farming equipment and advanced technologies for building pig farms. Smart pig farming solutions usually cover multiple scenarios such as online pig management, intelligent biosecurity prevention and control, precise feeding, intelligent estrus detection, and precise environmental control, bringing revolutionary changes to the pig farming industry. In practical applications, technologies similar to "intelligent estrus detection" can accurately determine the estrus state by monitoring the behavior and physical signs of sows 24 hours a day and combining intelligent algorithms, greatly improving the breeding success rate and reducing labor costs.

In addition, Japan is also constantly exploring and innovating in the pig farming industry, paying attention to animal welfare and quality improvement. Some pig farms in Japan adopt a refined management model, strictly controlling the source and ratio of pig feed to ensure the quality and safety of pork. At the same time, in terms of the breeding environment, efforts are made to provide pigs with a comfortable and clean living space to improve the health level of pigs and thus enhance the taste and quality of pork.

The global pig farming industry is at a crucial development stage. Countries have adopted different strategies in response to market challenges, policy adjustments, and technological innovations. Whether it is the policy support and sustainable development exploration in Europe in the face of market difficulties, or the active introduction and innovation of smart pig farming technologies in Asia, they have provided new ideas and directions for the future development of the global pig farming industry. Farmers and related enterprises need to pay close attention to the dynamics of the international pig farming industry and draw on advanced experiences to adapt to the ever-changing market environment.