What are the major challenges facing Spanish pork production
This is one of the main conclusions of the Aragón Pig Forum, an event organized by the Interprofessional Association of White Pigs (INTERPORC) together with the Government of Aragon, which brought together institutional leaders, scientists, companies, young farmers, and experts from various fields in Zaragoza.
During the day, the various speakers highlighted the essential role of white pigs as an economic and social driving force in rural areas, as well as their importance as a backbone for the region.
The President of the Aragon Government, Jorge Azcón, expressed this view, emphasizing that "the pork industry is of extraordinary importance to the region for economic and social reasons. We're talking about 4,300 farms and 20,000 jobs. It's a leading producer that gives life to rural areas."
An idea emphasized by INTERPORC's general manager, Alberto Herranz, who stated that "pork keeps many towns in Aragon alive, is a gateway for young people to the primary sector, and projects an image of a first-class exporting community".
Regarding the sector in general, Herranz noted that "after a golden decade of continuous success, 2024 left us with a clear message: the model is in transition, and we must adapt, adjust our strategy, and act intelligently and foresightfully".
Participation of the entire sector
The event, held under the theme "Transforming the Present to Lead the Future," kicked off with a snapshot of the current context, marked by a complex international environment, regulatory changes in sustainability and animal welfare, and an increasingly demanding and informed consumer.
Lorenzo Mazzuchelli of Kantar presented data confirming the upswing in domestic pork consumption in Spain, as well as the growth of the out-of-home channel and growing interest among young consumers.
The first roundtable discussion subsequently served to reaffirm the position of the pork sector as a backbone of rural development in Aragon. Participants emphasized that the sector's strength lies not only in its numbers, but also in its social roots and capacity to transform the region, as it generates employment, retains a population, and contributes to territorial cohesion, with a network of farms and companies that operate under European sustainability standards.
Throughout the day, one of the most repeated messages was the need to strengthen the sector's communication based on evidence and science. Therefore, in the second panel, voices from the academic, culinary, and sports fields agreed on the importance of combating stereotypes and hoaxes and offering a more realistic view of the production model, always with an honest narrative based on transparency, food safety, and animal welfare.
The afternoon session focused on competitiveness in the global market. Executives from some of the sector's leading companies emphasized that the key to the future lies not only in producing more, but also in adding value, diversifying markets, and strengthening quality and traceability as competitive advantages. This strategy consolidates Aragon, with 29% of national pork exports, as a key territory for international trade.
Finally, three young livestock farmers have shed light on the generational change, sharing their experience and vision on how to build a modern, sustainable, and professional livestock industry. Their testimony has demonstrated that pork farming is not only about tradition, but also about innovation, technology, and significant opportunities for personal and professional development for the new generations.
INTERPORC President Manuel García closed the event by emphasizing the value of the forum as a space for listening and consensus. “Today, we have all demonstrated that the pork sector has direction, capacity, and determination. Sustainability, competitiveness, internationalization, the sector's image, and generational change are not just challenges; they are the pillars on which we build the future of the Spanish pork sector”, he concluded.
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