UK pig producers forecast double digit cut in carbon emissions

The UK pig industry expects to cut its carbon emissions by 17% over the next 20 years. The prediction was made by Mick Sloyan, director of BPEX, which works to enhance the competitiveness of English pig meat producers, at this year’s Pig and Poultry Fair.
Since 2001, there has been an 8.2% reduction in carbon emissions through better performance on farm and, based on current trends, BPEX predicts that the industry’s environmental impact, taking into account all environmental burdens, will fall by as much as 30% between 2001 and 2010.
Mr Sloyan notes that the top 10% of producers will reduce their environmental impact further still.
Towards the end of last year, BPEX launched a Lifecycle Assessment, to estimate the environmental impacts of pork production and to identify opportunities for improvement. Measures to enhance the environmental sustainability of pig and pork production have also come under the spotlight.
At the time of the launch, BPEX head of marketing Chris Lamb commented: “The pig industry is determined to participate fully in the environmental debate and play its part in reducing greenhouse gases.”