Dear readers,
Some good news related to the swine industry:
- A kidney taken from a pig has functioned within a patient for 271 days, marking the longest duration ever recorded, according to physicians in the United States .
Tim Andrews, the patient, expressed that the transplant provided him with “hope” and saved him from several months of requiring hospital visits for blood filtration through a dialysis machine .The medical team at Mass General Brigham hospital reports that their research indicates pig organs may serve as a “bridge” until a human organ transplant can be obtained.
- AVAC live vaccines intended for combating African swine fever (ASF) might soon be on the market due to the approval granted by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) of the Philippines .In a statement released on Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr .expressed that “The existence of a commercially sanctioned ASF vaccine is vital to our initiatives for repopulation …It provides hog farmers with an additional resource to safeguard healthy livestock as we strive to restore the industry and ensure a more reliable pork supply.”The AVAC live vaccines, originating from Vietnam, are the inaugural ASF vaccine to receive government approval for commercial sale after a period of seven years since the ASF virus affected the Philippines. Agriculture Undersecretary for Livestock Constante Palabrica mentioned that testing for a second vaccine against ASF is currently in progress .The vaccine, known as PROVAC and crafted in South Korea, may offer an additional choice for Filipino hog farmers beginning next year .
- The Committee on Agriculture (AGRI) of the European Parliament has accepted its viewpoint regarding the update of the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) with a significant majority and has reaffirmed the 2023 decision of the European Parliament: the livestock industry under the IED is not appropriate for a regulation designed for major industrial polluters .The document, written by German MEP Christine Singer (Renew Europe), endorses the idea of making the IED more straightforward for the livestock sector, a stance that Copa and Cogeca have promoted for many years due to the challenges that the European Commission’s revision would introduce .
- Capal Agroindustrial Cooperative, in collaboration with Aurora Coop, has initiated a strategy to elevate its swine farming operations by 30%, capitalizing on the enhanced capacity of Aurora Coop’s processing facility located in Castro, Paraná state in Brazil .This project is directed towards both current Capal members and potential new producers, providing a cohesive framework for individuals interested in becoming cooperative members in the pork production sector. Within this framework, the cooperative provides necessary resources, including inputs, feed, medicines, and professional guidance, while the producer is responsible for contributing labor and investing in the infrastructure of the farm .
- Understanding that infectious diseases pose significant threats to pig farming, the Canadian government is assisting the industry in enhancing the measures required to protect animal welfare, bolster the resilience of the sector, and promote future development. The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, has declared a funding amount of up to $3,111,486 for the Canadian Pork Council through the AgriAssurance Program – National Industry Association Component, aimed at improving the extent and effectiveness of swine health monitoring.
- Polish producers can apply for aid if they have bought breeding gilts that are no older than 12 months within the year they submit the aid request or during the prior year. These gilts must possess a zootechnical certificate. Another stipulation is that the acquired gilts need to originate from herds that have undergone an evaluation of the pigs’ utility value. The legislation also mandates animal identification. A producer seeking assistance must retain within their herd for a duration of eight months from the application date, a number of breeding gilts or sows that is equal to or exceeds the quantity of breeding gilts or sows present in the herd at the time of application. The suggested aid amount stands at 460 € for each eligible breeding gilt that conforms to the outlined criteria in the proposal .
- This support will be dispensed in two parts .The first part will be 230 € for each gilt purchased, while the second installment, also PLN 230 €, will be provided after the eight-month period .To qualify for the financial support, producers must keep at least the same number of breeding gilts or sows in their herd as the number maintained on the application submission date. A total of 23 million € has been set aside for assistance related to gilts bought in 2026 .
Events calendar:
- AGRIFOOD TAIWAN is recognized as the leading trade fair for modern food production, processing, and technology in Taiwan. The fair will take place on 3 days from Tuesday, 08. September to Thursday, 10. September 2026 in Taipei.
- FOODTEC AFRICA is an international trade fair for food processing, food production and packaging technologies on the African market. The fair takes place on 3 days from Wed., 09.09.2026 to Fri., 11.09.2026 in Nairobi, Kenya.
- RIGA FOOD is a leading trade fair for the food industry, held at the International Exhibition Centre Kipsala in Riga, Latvia. The fair will take place on 3 days from Thursday, 10. September to Saturday, 12. September 2026.
- The ASEAN FOOD & BEVERAGE EXHIBITION (FNB ASEAN) is a leading trade fair specializing in the food and beverage industry within the ASEAN region. The fair will take place on 3 days from Thursday, 10. September to Saturday, 12. September 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Endless Summer
The Weekend of the Pig in the Netherlands offers a delightful outing while also sharing the genuine narrative of farmers, highlighting animal care and sustainable practices, along with an opportunity to sample pork sourced from local producers, states the organizer The Pig Story. Farmers who raise pigs demonstrate their commitment by implementing intelligent feeding practices, ensuring animal well-being, enhancing air quality, promoting circular farming, and maintaining short supply chains, among other efforts .In 2025, the organization noted that approximately 20,000 individuals attended the Weekend of the Pig, and they anticipate seeing thousands of enthusiastic attendees once again this year. Did our Dutch friends hear about ASF?
Out of the 199 samples examined this week in Catalunya, 5 showed positive results. Since the detection of the first case on November 28, a total of 11,775 wild boars have undergone testing, with 384 returning positive results and 11,391 negative. During the past week, 438 wild boars were captured within the designated restricted area, which encompasses both high-risk and low-risk zones. The total capture of wild boars in the rest of Catalonia, exclusive of the high- and low-risk areas, stands at 26,587 since the beginning of the year .
The Catalan Government is actively conducting an extensive eradication campaign, equipped with enhanced resources and manpower .At present, there are 36 traps and 94 group traps located within the high-risk zone, alongside the establishment of 353 perimeter barriers designed to restrict the movement of wild boars in and out of the protected areas. This week, the operation engaged a total of 1,179 personnel, which includes 357 members from the intervention team, a canine team from a private firm in Catalonia, and 822 members from the enforcement team. The Department of Agriculture is overseeing and approving captures within the low-risk zone, working in partnership with hunting associations and municipal authorities .Over the weekend, 5 hunting sessions took place, involving 115 hunters and 93 dogs, along with 35 additional hunters on standby . I would like to see similar involvement in other countries affected by ASF!
Meanwhile the pork sales start to struggle again in Europe. The tourist season, with its grills and barbecues, comes to an end. In the east of Europe people are returning from the relatives living in the rural area with baskets of food obtained from the backyard farms. School starts and the budget priority is moving to the related expenses. Weather is cooling and pigs gain weight again. Would it be easier to maintain high pig prices, if we have an endless summer?
