Pig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    • October 2025
    • September 2025
    • August 2025
    • 2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement
    • July 2025
    • June 2025
    • 2025 Innovation supplement
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Buildings supplement
    • February 2025
    • 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Pig Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • 2024 Innovation supplement
    • 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • 2024 Buildings Supplement
    • March 2024
    • 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • Health Supplement
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
Subscribe
Pig WorldPig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    1. October 2025
    2. September 2025
    3. August 2025
    4. 2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement
    5. July 2025
    6. June 2025
    7. 2025 Innovation supplement
    8. May 2025
    9. April 2025
    10. March 2025
    11. 2025 Buildings supplement
    12. February 2025
    13. 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    14. January 2025
    15. December 2024
    16. November 2024
    17. 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    18. October 2024
    19. September 2024
    20. August 2024
    21. 2024 Pig Health supplement
    22. July 2024
    23. June 2024
    24. 2024 Innovation supplement
    25. 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    26. May 2024
    27. April 2024
    28. 2024 Buildings Supplement
    29. March 2024
    30. 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    31. February 2024
    32. January 2024
    33. December 2023
    34. November 2023
    35. 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    36. October 2023
    37. September 2023
    38. Health Supplement
    Featured

    October 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    October 2, 2025
    Recent

    October 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    October 2, 2025

    September 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    September 1, 2025

    August 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    August 1, 2025
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
LinkedIn X (Twitter)
Pig World
Comment

We should be honest, open and confident

PW ReportersBy PW ReportersAugust 1, 20183 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

We recently invited the British Poultry Council (BPC)’s public affairs and PR manager Shraddha Kaul to present to the Allied Industry Group about being more proactive with regards to comms, getting the most from good news stories (which seem to be few and far between) and how to diffuse bad news and anti- farming coverage, writes Lizzie Wilson, NPA’s policy services officer. 

The pig and poultry sectors have many common challenges – not least the fact that we’re generally considered ‘intensive’ livestock sectors. And these days, apparently, ‘intensive’ or big equates to bad.

Consumers assume all farm animals either are or should live outside, because it’s more ‘natural’. We all know our detractors gleefully perpetuate this ideal to drive their own particular agenda. This is increasingly affecting planning applications and the way in which the media engage with and portray us. But, Shraddha told us we should pick our battles a little better.

Although anti-farming and vegan groups make a lot of noise in trying to influence people’s diet, the actual change they effect is limited. Journalist and broadcaster Anna Jones added further balance at our spring South Central regional meeting, in that only approximately 1% of the population are vegan.

Comparatively, 1% are farmers – now consider how much media coverage (good and bad) we have received over the years. Pretty disproportionate for such a small group. Journalists don’t agree that we should always command positive ‘puff’ stories just because we grow food. However, consumers don’t appreciate being dictated to on what to eat and why by the evangelical fringe.

The likes of Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) and animal rights activists love to infer we have ‘something to hide’ – we all know we don’t. But we do know there are certain practices that may be unpalatable to the general public, who now, so disassociated from farming, find it difficult to comprehend. I do agree with Shraddha and our friends at CIWF (once and once only!) – we need to be more transparent as an industry.

We should be honest, open and confident when challenged – certain production systems may not be acceptable to everyone, but this is what we have to do to be able to feed everyone at a certain price point. We produce affordable pork for the average consumer – the majority, not the minority, while delivering a good standard of health and welfare.

That said, the consumer landscape is changing. Consumers are more aware of their health and the environment and the impact of their choices on both than ever before, and we must adapt, also. But we’ve got a great track record, having coped with so much volatility over the years.

Although we already work with BPC, on environmental issues in particular, we’ll be meeting them shortly to discuss how else we can work together collaboratively in future. As the two most progressive and proactive livestock sectors, I’m excited to discuss what we might be able to achieve together.

 

 

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleNFU to host agricultural drought summit tomorrow
Next Article Brexit chaos casts long shadow over ‘encouraging’ White Paper
PW Reporters

Read Similar Stories

Comment: Breaking through biosecurity barriers

September 5, 2025

Comment: ‘I want agriculture to be valued as a growth sector’

September 5, 2025

Vet View: Managing heat stress in pigs

August 6, 2025
Latest News

Pilgrim’s Europe reports big increase in profits

October 2, 2025

20t of illegal meat seized at Dover in September, despite funding and staff cuts

October 2, 2025

Last chance to vote for NPA Allied Industry Member of the Year

October 2, 2025
Sponsored Content

All Vaccines Are Not Equal

September 15, 2025

Enhancing Weaned Pig Health and Performance with Zinc and Iron

August 1, 2025
Current Pig Industry jobs
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1783 Shropshire

    • Shropshire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Pig Stock Technician – Ref 1782 Yorkshire

    • North Yorkshire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1781 Norfolk

    • Norfolk
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
GETTING IN TOUCH
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Meet The Editors
  • About Us
  • Email Newsletters
  • Subscribe
  • Reuse permissions
OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
PARTNER EVENTS
RELATED SITES
  • Farmers Weekly
  • Agronomist & Arable Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • National Pig Awards
  • Pigs Tomorrow
  • Poultry News
  • Weekly Tribune
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.