It has been both an honour and a pleasure to chair the industry’s steering group during the development of the Pork Environmental Roadmap for the British pig sector.
We brought together a wide range of stakeholders, producers, integrators, processors, levy and assurance bodies and independent expertise, and the discussions were rigorous, informed and constructive.
From the outset we were united by one clear principle: that this roadmap must be led by evidence. That commitment to evidence is why we commissioned a new Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of prime pig production to the farm gate. Earlier assessments have been strengthened with improved feed data, so the current picture is as robust as possible, and we were determined to make sure the latest emissions data was accessed.
If we’re going to talk about sustainability in public, we need to be confident we can stand behind the numbers. So, why does this roadmap matter?
First, it provides a clear, credible account of where the sector is today. That matters because the story around livestock is often told in broad brush strokes. Producers know that reality is far more nuanced – systems differ, progress is continuous and improvements rarely come from one ‘silver bullet’.
Anchored in evidence
A roadmap anchored in evidence helps ensure British pork is judged on what is actuality and not assumptions or global averages.
Second, it creates a shared platform for action. Producers are already doing a huge amount on efficiency, animal health, nutrient management and energy.
However, we often lack a coordinated way to pull that progress together, communicate it consistently and focus improvements where they will have the biggest effect. This roadmap helps do that.
Third, it supports market confidence. Whether it is customers, assurance schemes or policymakers, there is more demand for proof.
A roadmap with a robust LCA behind it helps protect and promote the British pork brand and makes it easier for producers to show that improvements are real and measurable. One of the most important things the LCA does is show that progress is already happening.
Across the sector, improvements in feed efficiency, productivity, herd health, housing performance and manure management have delivered measurable gains. We’ve seen diets evolve with greater use of co-products and alternative proteins and continued refinement of rations to improve nutrient use.
Many farms have invested in better systems to manage slurry, reduce losses and boost efficiency. Others are pushing forward on energy efficiency and renewables to reduce exposure to price volatility.
These improvements are rarely headline-grabbing on their own, but together they add up. That is the story we need to tell with confidence – British pork is not standing still.
Practical lessons
The LCA gives us practical lessons. We should focus on the biggest drivers. Feed and manure management are central to the footprint of pork production. That doesn’t mean other areas don’t matter, but it tells us where effort and investment will yield the greatest returns.
Trade-offs are real. An LCA doesn’t just measure climate impacts, it highlights where improvements in one area can place pressure elsewhere.
That’s not a flaw, it is why this kind of assessment is so valuable. It lets us choose solutions delivering net benefit, not unintended consequences.
Progress comes from packages of measures – there is no single fix. We get the best outcomes when we combine good nutrition, housing, manure management and data.
This is not a static document. It will evolve, incorporating new data, case studies and technologies to guide continued improvement. But for that to happen, we need three things from the sector:
- Engagement: If there are challenges to our conclusions, let’s hear them. Constructive scrutiny boosts credibility and drives progress.
- Evidence: Better, more consistent farm-level data will help us prove progress, identify what works best and avoid relying on assumptions.
- Adoption and collaboration: Where best practice is clear, we need to scale it and where barriers exist, we need the supply chain and policy partners to help remove them.