Dear readers,

       Some good news from our industry:

• In a release, Makana Therapeutics announced that the company’s scientists have discovered that pigs contain a fourth gene that when inactivated will greatly reduce the risk of organ rejection in a human recipient. Makana’s Triple Knockout Pig (“TKO”) is the current foundational genetics used across the field of xenotransplantation, and is deficient in three genes which drive hyperacute rejection of pig tissue transplanted into humans.
• Nebraska becomes the fourth U.S. state to formally institute laws that restrict the sale of cultivated meat. Governor Pillen also is calling on the NDA to begin developing a rulemaking process to ensure that any cultivated meat products sold in stores in Nebraska are “properly labeled and are not marketed next to natural meat on the same shelves.”
• The US Farm Bill is normally updated every five years, but the last measure expired in 2023 and was already extended for a year after Congress failed to agree to a full renewal. The National Pork Producers Council’s Fall Legislative Action Conference Fly-in is held on September 11-12 on Capitol Hill with the “primary goal to continue urging our members, especially those on the ag committees in the House and Senate, to get a Farm Bill done this year” while Congress is still in session before the November elections.
• The National Pork Producers Council has launched a new initiative called Young Pork Advocates. NPPC aims to foster a deeper understanding and commitment for our industry among young lawyers, ensuring that they are well-prepared to take on future challenges in the industry.
• Iowa Davenport City Council said plans to build a $134 million Fair Oaks Food facility are back underway after being delayed for a year due to labor shortages and financial projections. The facility is expected to bring 250 jobs.
• The USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced a $17.6 million investment to advance research aimed at protecting agricultural animal health. The funding supports high-priority projects focused on diseases like African swine fever (ASF), part of USDA’s “One Health” initiative.

Among the financed projects:

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientists design and evaluate ASF engineered vaccine antigens.
• University of Missouri researchers to develop safer and more effective swine influenza vaccines.
• The Spanish Junta de Castilla y León has launched a new line of aid to promote industrial research or experimental development projects that can be applied by professionals and companies in the agri-food sector of the Community. The subsidy has a budget of 850,000 euros . The projects will have a maximum duration of four years and the co-financing they receive can reach up to 80% of their cost, with 158,400 euros as the maximum limit of aid per project. 
• Noel Alimentaria group of Spain has come to control the entire Bas Alimentaria company. The firm was created a few years ago by Noel Alimentaria and the former footballer Gerard Piqué and sells its hamburgers under the Natrus brand and uses animals raised in the Vall d’en Bas. Its range of products includes Duroc pigs and other local breeds.

Events calendar:

• The Specialty and Fine Food Fair is a standout event in London’s culinary calendar. It will take place on 2 days from Tuesday, 10. September to Wednesday, 11. September 2024 in London Olympia Exhibition Centre.
• Foire de Savoie is one of the most important fairs is attracting many visitors from all over France every year. It will take place on 11 days from Friday, 13. September to Monday, 23. September 2024 in Chambéry.
• The Gourmet Selection is a trade fair established in 2009. It will take place on 2 days from Sunday, 15. September to Monday, 16. September 2024 in Paris.

Back to School Again

The beginning of September is traditionally a game changer in the pig industry of Europe.

It is the end of the sea-side tourism, the restaurants are starting to close and the millions of tourists are not anymore rambling trough the shops, purchasing also meat. Anyhow, the supply of this areas has been already contracted in spring, before the season started. Obviously, there were some resupply orders, but not at significant levels.

During summer it was easy to sell the pigs, even we where below the record price levels of 2023. August was exceptionally hot, there was almost no weight gain on the pigs in the barns. Spain still registered carcass weight reduction last week. The rotation of fatteners in August was delayed, so we can expect low availability of market hogs in November.

September traditionally shows antagonist evolutions. People return to the cities, enterprise and school canteens reopen, so urban consumption should increase. On the other hand, people have less money to spend after holidays, but also because kids are back to school again.