Dear readers,
We share some good news from our industry:
- Chefs Culinar intends to assume management of the Matthias Meat Processing Plant in Poland. Matthias Meat is a food manufacturing and distribution company that has been in operation for more than 35 years .The firm focuses on meat processing, providing products such as pre-prepared meals, deli items, and services for the HoReCa industry .Chefs Culinar has been active in Poland since 2012, focusing on the distribution of both food and non-food items aimed at the HoReCa market .
- The Energy Center located at the Catholic University of the Holy Conception in Chile will create a technology that converts spent cooking oil and leftover fats from the meat sector into renewable liquefied petroleum gas and renewable natural gas. The goal is to lessen Chile’s reliance on fossil fuels brought in from outside the country .
- The government of Colombia has revealed a recent initiative in its plan to globalize its agricultural industry: the Philippines has authorized the veterinary health documentation established with Colombia for both beef and pork products.
- Dutch slaughterhouses will initiate the use of automated sorting for pig carcasses starting January 1, 2027 .The existing CGM piercing tool will be substituted with the AutoFOM IV and CSB Image-Meater 2.0. .The method of monitoring the slaughter process will also be revised in conjunction with the new approach .The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (LVVN) has permitted the sector to create a private quality assurance program for this aim. Established guidelines will remain a component of an updated Meat Market Regulation. Any slaughterhouse that requires classification must appoint a classification officer. This person is responsible for ensuring that the slaughtering, weighing, and classification procedures are carried out correctly. This role will be overseen by an independent inspection agency designated by Holland Varken .
- The animal feed manufacturer Nijsen, located in Veulen, the Netherlands, has taken over the PowerPiglet feed concept from Innoporc based in Mill .Through this purchase, Nijsen seeks to enhance its role in the sector of specialized nutrition for piglets and specifically aims to grow on an international scale. PowerPiglet possesses an existing sales network across several European nations, which Nijsen plans to develop further.
- Pork concept Heyde Hoeve is joining forces with pig dealer Henk Kosse. Kosse will bring in new contributors in the Northeast of the Netherlands and will then manage interactions with pig farmers .Through this approach, Heyde Hoeve seeks to broaden its service region and boost the number of involved farms .For pig farmers who are interested in joining, there are extra requirements in addition to the IKB standards. Heyde Hoeve employs a Duroc terminal boar to set itself apart in terms of the flavor and quality of its meat. This aspect remains unchanged due to the partnership with Kosse, who also works in Piétrain genetics. “There is no intersection with us there, as it does not align,” states Janssen. The Duroc terminal boar continues to be a mandatory element within the concept .
- The Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office has implemented new biosecurity measures for pig farming in order to enhance defense against African swine fever(A.S.F.).These regulations are applicable to all types of holdings, ranging from commercial breeding and finishing operations to small-scale private pig farms .Farms that adhere to these defined standards may qualify for special exemptions concerning the transport and sale of animals in the event of a nearby ASF outbreak.
- Indonesia is striving for the quicker advancement of a vaccine against ASF, as the illness continues to pose a risk to the nation’s pig farming sector .The availability of ASF vaccines is still very limited on a global scale, with numerous nations yet to create a successful vaccine. The government is prepared to back vaccine development and has set aside 775,000 € for the acquisition of ASF vaccines.
- Olymel has finalized a $142 million enhancement of its processing plant located in Trois-Rivières, Canada, increasing its yearly capacity from 12 million to 50 million kilograms by over four times .This modernization integrates pork and poultry processing, as well as slicing and packaging into one facility, and introduces automation, artificial intelligence, and interconnected machinery throughout the process .Additionally, this investment prepares Olymel for continued expansion within the U.S. market, where a substantial amount of the facility’s ham production is currently shipped, while also generating nearly 100 job opportunities and implementing new energy-saving advancements .
Events calendar:
- The “Alimentaria FoodTech” is an international trade fair specializing in technologies, machinery, and ingredients used in the food and beverage industry. Held at the Gran Via Venue of Fira de Barcelona in Spain, it will take place on 3 days from Tuesday, 06. October to Thursday, 08. October 2026.
- Olma Messen St. Gallen is the largest and most popular public fair in Switzerland. The OLMA will take place on 11 days from Thursday, 08. October to Sunday, 18. October 2026 in St. Gallen.
- The “Agrofood West Africa” is a prestigious trade fair. It serves as a central platform for business and networking in the fields of agriculture, livestock farming, food technology, beverages, and packaging in West Africa. The fair takes place on 3 days from Thursday, 08.10.2026 to Saturday, 10.10.2026 in Abidjan.
- The “J-AGRI LIVESTOCK TOKYO” is a leading trade fair specializing in modern technologies and products in the field of livestock farming, held at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan. The fair will take place on 3 days from Wednesday, 07. October to Friday, 09. October 2026.
- “VIV Africa” is a prominent international trade fair that has focused on animal breeding and processing. The fair takes place at the Kigali Convention Centre (KCC) in Kigali, Rwanda, on 2 days from Wednesday, 07. October to Thursday, 08. October 2026.
Taking Care of Business
Above we have some good examples of how different companies in different countries are reacting to the current crisis of the pig industry.
One of the major challenges, as it results from the examples, is access to foreign markets. We see Colombia pushing for access to the Philippines pork market. It is true that the country is one of the largest importers of pork, especially for bellies. It is also true that the Philippines are looking to increase taxing of pork while giving permits to almost any applicant, maintaining a competition for the market. The consequence: low prices.
Olymel also invested in expanding a plant, in order to increase access to US market. Can anyone bet on this, with president Trump’s tariff policy?
Consolidation is also a way, with companies merging in markets under pressure.
ASF remains, unfortunately, a major challenge globally. From supporting vaccine research to introducing standards and regulations, we see many ways of reaction.
Differentiation, like focusing on a certain genetic, is also about finding a way out from the current crisis.
How are you taking care of business?
