Pig sector - reducing greenhouse gas emissions: bringing home the bacon - report

7. Conclusion

Scottish pig farmers have demonstrated they can and will adapt their business and behaviours to deliver both economical and sustainable outcomes. In pursuit of further reductions in greenhouse emissions (GHG), our pig farmers need to make strategic investments. This report has identified the most cost-effective environmental mitigation strategies and proposes economic and policy support to help make those changes happen. These include investment in new infrastructure; further advances in technology and energy; further enhancement of pig health & welfare; and supporting producer confidence through cooperation and market development. Improvements are needed in the national inventory to enable current and future performance to be more accurately reported.

The Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee requested greater clarity on the interaction between the Climate Change Plan targets for agriculture and the Ambition 2030 target of doubling the food and drink sector. This report has outlined how these three policy ambitions can be aligned with respect to pigmeat production, trade and consumption.

Scottish pig farmers take pride in being open in the sharing of data, being consistent in tackling different challenges in disease and husbandry, and now need to be brave in facing new challenges which will be essential in further reducing emissions.

With supportive policy, we are certain that pork production will play an active part in leading our food supply chain to achieve net zero emissions in Scottish agriculture.