The new face of Brazilian pig production – Challenges and prospects

The major challenges facing the pig production sector in Brazil also provide its greatest opportunities. Within Brazil, the industry has to convince the Brazilian consumer of the benefits of consuming pork-based products, and thus increasing domestic consumption of meat will be a great challenge to be pursued. On the international scene, our challenge is related to the conquest of new markets such as the European and Japanese markets. Neither can we forget the Chinese market, which will certainly be a large importer of pork, due to several factors. Among these we can mention:

• The huge growth of per capita income;
• The deficit in domestic supply sources of vegetable protein (e.g. soyabean);
• Limitation for the expansion of corn production, and
• Lack of water.

India, another country that must be considered, is beginning to show a potential for expansion of meat demand. However, in order to expand foreign markets, it is necessary to convince international consumers, especially the more demanding markets of Europe, USA and Asia, of the high health status of the national herd. The potential for sustainable growth of pig production in Brazil is huge due to:

• The availability of water, grain for feed, labor, and technology;
• Great potential for growth of domestic consumption per capita and,
• Constant improvement in the health of our herds, which is allowing us to gain new markets every year.

Moreover, the recent crisis in the grain market increases the chances of Brazil to become a major supplier of food and thus also a large global supplier of pork.

References

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7. Santos Filho, J. I.; Santos, N. A.; Canever, M. D.; Sousa, I. S. F.; Vieira, L. F. O. Cluster Suinicola do Oeste de Santa Catarina. In: Haddad, P.R. [Org.]. A competitividade do agronegócio e o desenvolvimento regional no Brasil: estudo de clusters. Brasilia: CNPq/EMBRAPA, 1999. p.125–180.
8. Santos Filho, J. I. dos; Bertol, T. M.; Matiello, A. M. O baixo consumo de carne suína nas regiões brasileiras: o que dizem os dados da pesquisa de orçamentos familiares. Revista de Politica Agrícola. 2010. 8 p. (submitted).
9. Santos Filho, J. I. dos; Talamini, D. J. D.; Boff, J.; Chiucheta, O ; Canever, M. D.; Analise Econômica da Especialização na Suinocultura. Revista de Política Agrícola. Brasília. 2001. 9 p.

By Santos Filho, J.I.; Bertol, T.M.

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Source: © CAB International 2010, Pig News and Information 31 (1), 1– 8