INTERPORC: Commitment to the sustainability of the Spanish pig sector
The sector is aligned with the values and objectives of the European Green Pact and has set itself the goal of achieving neutral climate impact by 2050. For this reason, Alberto Herranz, director of the Interprofessional, recalled that "the entire pork chain is totally committed with sustainable production and the constant reduction of emissions, and the official data from Ministry of Ecological Transition endorse us”.
In this sense, he explained that "CO2 accounts for three quarters of greenhouse gases and, according to the GHG Emissions Inventory of the Ministry of Ecological Transition, the pig sector only generates 2.64% of those produced in Spain, very far from sectors with double digits such as Transport (27%), Industry (19%) or Electricity (17%)”.
The reduction of GHGs in the pig sector is a constant. For example, according to the latest available data, in 2021 they fell by 4.11% per kilo of meat produced. And in the last 15 years, just in manure management, they have dropped more than 40%.
"These results are the fruit of a lot of work by professionals in the sector, who apply the European production model, the most demanding legislation in the world in terms of the environment," concludes Herranz, whose organization is part, representing the pig sector of Spanish white cape, from the Spanish Network of the United Nations Global Compact, for the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 14 of which INTERPORC is already working on.
Another actions with which the sector is contributing to the reduction of CO2 emissions and other gases such as methane is the commitment to the circular economy, as well as to renewable energies.
There are more and more farms supplied by thermal, solar or photovoltaic energy, which allows them to reduce their environmental impact, and even distribute their surplus electricity generated.
In addition, recalls the director of INTERPORC, the methane produced in livestock is part of a biogenic cycle (it is transformed into CO2 and H2O in 12 years) that is absorbed by plants in photosynthesis.
For all this, and contrary to what is said, Herranz values the role of Spanish pig farming "as part of the solution to reach a neutral climate impact in 2050 thanks to its great advances in sustainability of the production process ”.
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