World meat industry news

The opening of the Chinese market may become a prerequisite for increasing pork production in Russia. This opinion was voiced by Deputy Minister of Agriculture Andrei Razin at the XV International Scientific and Practical Conference “Pig Breeding-2023. From adaptation mode to further sustainable development.”

He noted that among the factors that positively influence the movement of the pork industry forward is increased consumption. This year there is good demand for pork from both the processing and consumer sectors. Based on the results of nine months of this year, the Ministry of Agriculture notes an increase in pork production by 6% compared to last year. “And all these products find their consumers—there are no problems with sales,” noted Razin.

“In addition, we continue to work to strengthen international contacts, including working to increase supplies to China. And this year we have our first victories,” Razin said. At the end of September, the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China lifted 15-year restrictions on pork exports from Russia, Rosselkhoznadzor reported. The department has been carrying out large-scale work to ensure the admission of pig products to the Chinese market since 2013. This suggests that our pig farming has good prerequisites for increasing production, Razin believes.

He expressed hope that the industry will continue to develop, and emphasized that the Ministry of Agriculture, for its part, will support this development. Critical issues that the industry still needs to pay close attention to, especially as new export opportunities emerge, are biosecurity and veterinary welfare. “These issues certainly remain on the agenda. But in general, the industry is being restructured, modern technologies are being applied, pig farms are endlessly working to improve veterinary welfare and biosafety,” noted Razin.

The deputy minister added that the business still has new investment projects and plans in pig farming. “And we expect that in the coming years the industry will develop progressively, because there are both internal and external prerequisites for this,” he noted. Razin added that the Ministry of Agriculture works with the National Union of Pig Breeders in direct dialogue, and such cooperation is also the key to stable work and high-quality development of pig farming in the present and future.