By Andrew Heck

Editor’s note: Andrew Heck is past Editor, Canadian Hog Journal. He can be contacted at ‘andrewtheck@gmail.com.’

The past half-decade has exposed just how vulnerable global supplies chains are, and the Canadian pork industry has no shortage of examples to prove it.

In the spirit of fostering relationships, streamlining the movement of pigs and pork to market, and ensuring equity for all stakeholders, Alberta Pork hosted the first-ever Western Canadian Pork Industry Forum in Calgary on Nov. 20, bringing together more than 30 representatives from hog production, pork processing, transportation, veterinary medicine and government to address systemic challenges and identify strategic opportunities for the sector.

This collaborative dialogue underscored the need for actionable solutions to enhance competitiveness, sustainability and growth. Further representation from retail and foodservice rounded out the perspectives. The session was facilitated by neutral-party experts, with participation from market analysts keen on providing insight and context to guide an effective conversation.

Upon the completion of the forum, four key priorities emerged to guide industry advocacy and government efforts: risk management and investment, domestic pork demand, multi-stakeholder collaboration for collective impact, and trade. But to truly realize the benefit of these efforts, stakeholders must continue to seek common ground and mutual understanding.

Competitiveness, investment are key to managing risk

Enhancing financial stability for the industry requires robust risk management tools that mitigate the financial volatility faced by producers. Such tools are urgently needed especially in the wake of disease, drought and retaliatorily trade issues. Stable and predictable margins encourage confidence across the value chain and allow for the continued growth of the industry.

The current suite of business risk management tools available to hog producers has proven insufficient to top up their margins when times are tough. While some agricultural commodities have fared well with existing programming, the unique nature of hog production and its just-in-time delivery system, plus the prevalence of mixed operations, has rendered AgriStability, in particular, ineffective. In recent years, AgriRecovery has been invoked at the federal level to support crop and grazing livestock producers in western Canada; however, hog producers have been routinely excluded.

In addition, strategic investment in modern infrastructure and innovative technology within barns and production facilities will improve operational efficiency, product quality and environmental sustainability. Support in these areas is critical to facilitate long-term growth and to ensure producers have the tools to thrive in increasingly competitive markets with growing societal sustainability pressures.

Given the high capital costs associated with modernizing infrastructure and adopting technology, more widely available lending options and improved profitability are needed to support growth. Many barns across western Canada are currently in need of significant retrofitting. While the age of facilities is an obvious concern, a ban on gestation crates is set to take effect in 2029, with changes to the National Farm Animal Care Council’s (NFACC) Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pigs.

The forum highlighted the desire across the value chain for more cooperation to drive business success. For business risk management to be fulfilled, industry competitiveness should be enhanced to reduce the reliance on government funding. Anti-competitive realities – such as the federal carbon tax – are a known impediment to businesses, which has a compounded impact at each step of the value chain.

Domestic demand can provide a safety net

Starting in the 1970s, the Canadian pork industry was compelled to pick a lane. For most of the 20^th century and earlier, the industry consisted of local production, processing, retail and home consumption, but that shifted dramatically toward international exports as opportunities emerged overseas and as Canadian consumers changed their habits.

As the pendulum swung in a radical new direction, the industry saw rapid expansion abroad and began to fizzle out at home, at least among end-users. With the flood of cheaper U.S. pork on the Canadian domestic market and the meteoric rise of chicken, the Canadian pork industry turned its attention to creating a higher-quality product that would be appreciated in markets like Japan, while finding new outlets for affordable cuts and offal in markets like China. And while this shift was undoubtedly responsible for success in the decades to come, more recent developments have called the approach into question. Stakeholders more than ever are now realizing why the domestic market matters so much.

One area in which the Canadian pork industry has a pressing need to brush up is the situation of a potential foreign animal disease outbreak, like African Swine Fever (ASF) or Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). In the event trade comes to a halt due to a federally reportable disease like ASF or FMD, pork supplies already in cold storage will become backlogged, awaiting export, which will cause serious supply chain complications. The only immediate reprieve could be renewed domestic interest in buying up the stalled pork until market activities resume as normal.

While a supply crisis may be inevitable under a federally reportable disease, anything helps, when it comes to growing consumption levels. The forum identified the need to re-shape pork’s image in the eyes of consumers, which could help drive domestic demand and establish a greater sense of balance to offset the reliance on foreign markets.

Stakeholder collaboration creates collective impact

The success of the Canadian pork industry hinges on strong collaboration across the value chain. Working together to address shared challenges will unlock opportunities for growth, efficiency and innovation.

Starting in 2024, virtually all of Canada’s commercial hog producers – representing 99 per cent of pork processed in facilities under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) – have been certified under the Canadian Pork Excellence (CPE) program. This important milestone required nearly a decade of efforts by producers and the industry to come to fruition. With implementation challenges overcome, the Canadian pork industry is stronger and more united than ever, which is a testament to the hard work of so many stakeholders.

From farm to table, the Canadian pork story today continues to emphasize the high quality and safety of Canadian pork. While CPE represents the on-farm quality assurances, the Verified Canadian Pork brand communicates these virtues to end-users – whether foreign buyers or everyday Canadian consumers at retail. As CPE is now fully implemented, value chain collaboration appears more effective than ever, which is a trend the industry can leverage for years to come.  

The forum recognized the need to keep the momentum going. Building on proven models and past initiatives provides the impetus for long-term improvements; however, this will require increased collaboration between industry and government to create policy frameworks and programs that reinforce Canada’s position as a global leader in pork production.

Trade barriers continue to pose a threat

Like many non-supply-managed Canadian agricultural commodities, pork is ultimately at the whims of political decisions that extend far beyond the industry’s control. Gaining the trust and understanding of policy-makers and diplomats at home is essential for maintaining existing and developing new markets for Canadian pork. Though the forum recognized the need for increased domestic demand, foreign demand is far from decreasing, and the Canadian pork industry remains poised to play a prominent role as a top-five global supplier into the future.

Political volatility in both the U.S. and China has caused headaches for the Canadian pork industry in recent years. With the U.S., the threat of tariffs against Canadian goods has raised anxiety, on top of incoming voluntary country-of-origin labelling (vCOOL) and an impending review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico (CUSMA) agreement. With China, the constant threat of halting pork imports hangs over the heads of export partners like Canada, and not without precedent. In 2019, Chinese officials accused Canadian pork exports of containing ractopamine, despite its ban in Canadian commercial production several years prior. Effectively, the dispute was without merit and in response to over-arching political tensions. Such situations can and likely will continue to emerge in the future.

Market diversification has long been a focus for the industry, and that focus will only grow stronger. Population decline in traditional foreign markets for Canadian pork is cause for concern. On the flip side, many populations in Latin America and Africa are quickly growing, along with the standard of living and demand for meat. These potential markets could be the next frontier, which presents a monumental challenge for global pork producers, including Canada, to expand their reach to areas once considered non-starters.

Ultimately, navigating the complex waters of international relations requires commitment across the value chain. The forum acknowledged that foreign buyers’ expectations continue to have a stronghold on industry development, and as the world continues to change, those expectations will likely evolve further.

Shared priorities pave a path forward

The Western Canadian Pork Industry Forum served as a vital starting point for aligning priorities and building a shared vision for a more sustainable and competitive industry. Achieving this vision will require targeted government support, industry-led innovation and a collective commitment to strengthening the pork value chain.

By addressing these priorities – better risk management, increased domestic demand, more effective collaboration and stronger trade relations – industry and government decision-makers can work together to create a thriving pork sector that benefits producers, consumers and the broader economy.

By Andrew Heck

Editor’s note: Andrew Heck is past Editor, Canadian Hog Journal. He can be contacted at ‘andrewtheck@gmail.com.’

If COVID-19 taught us anything, it’s that paranoia provides great leverage for influencing people.

Stoking fear, creating division and using coded language as a means of strengthening ideology is nothing new, but when it comes to animal rights activism, it’s recently found a dangerous home in the House of Commons with Bill C-293: An Act respecting pandemic prevention and preparedness.

The bill was introduced in June 2022 by Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, (Liberal) Member of Parliament (MP), Beaches-East York (Ontario) – a small but densely populated constituency near downtown Toronto. As Bill C-293 approaches second reading in the Senate, there is concern that it could become law, despite advocacy efforts by stakeholders across Canadian livestock and meat value chains.

In principle, Bill C-293 is inoffensive enough: Who wouldn’t want to prevent a pandemic? Digging deeper, the bill includes some spurious clauses that single out livestock and meat. While activists are no strangers to using every opportunity to take shots at the industry, their tactics tend to fall flat more often than they’re successful. Even more frequently, these initiatives lack teeth, from a legal standpoint. Bill C-293 is a noteworthy and unfortunate exception, and its passage could further legitimize efforts to end Canadian livestock production while adopting an official government stance against meat consumption.

COVID-19’s association with livestock

With the spectre of COVID-19 likely to linger for years to come, members of the public and policy-makers alike have begun unpacking what went wrong and how issues can be mitigated in the future. That’s a perfectly reasonable response, albeit incredibly challenging.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes Wuhan, China as the source of the SARS‑CoV‑2 virus responsible for the pandemic. While no single origin has been pinpointed by experts, one theory suggests that Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market – commonly called a ‘wet market’ – may have been ground zero for the virus’ spread to humans, as many of the first cases were identified in workers there.

Wet markets are characterized by their eclectic mixture of fresh goods for sale, including wild-harvested and farm-raised meats. These markets remain the dominant source of food for Chinese consumers, despite growing competition from modern supermarkets. While the sale of live wildlife is technically banned in Chinese wet markets, it’s estimated that 38 wildlife species were sold for food or as pets at Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market around the time that SARS‑CoV‑2 emerged. The lack of food safety and biosecurity standards, combined with cramped quarters for people, food and animals, certainly would’ve provided the perfect breeding ground for zoonotic disease transmission.

However, looking at Canadian intensive livestock production, there’s no comparison – something that activists would like everyday Canadians and politicians to overlook, in favour of conflating the situation in overseas wet markets with the highly controlled conditions in Canadian hog barns and pork processing facilities.

How does Bill C-293 impact hog production?

Bill C-293 puts forth recommendations for various federal government ministries, including Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), related to preventing and preparing for pandemics. These recommendations cover everything from public health services and vaccines, to foreign affairs, to wildlife management and land-use planning, to livestock production and meat, including:

(2) The pandemic prevention and preparedness plan must…

… (i) reduce the risks posed by antimicrobial resistance,

(ii) regulate commercial activities that can contribute to pandemic risk, including industrial animal agriculture,

(iii) promote commercial activities that can help reduce pandemic risk, including the production of alternative proteins…

The back-to-back clauses read like an instruction guide for pushing the Canadian food system away from livestock and meat. In isolation, these clauses address three separate but intrinsically connected ideas, regarding antimicrobial use, animal health on-farm and food consumer choice. This is no accident, but the context is likely lost on those outside the industry. More importantly, it’s possible and necessary to set the record straight.

Hog producers are already reducing antimicrobial use

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is indeed a serious issue. While the positive effects of responsible antimicrobial use (AMU) are known, the potentially harmful impacts of AMR on human health are being more closely monitored by global authorities and industry stakeholders.

Starting in 2018, the federal government stepped up its efforts against AMR by requiring veterinarians to prescribe all medically important antimicrobials – those with human health implications – for use in livestock. This legislative change wisely relied on the existing relationships between producers and their herd vets, rather than a heavy-handed approach.

Between 2018 and 2021, Alberta Pork analyzed data from 20 farms, with a total of 7,500 sows, to create an AMU pilot benchmark for the provincial industry. The results of this three-year study were shared widely at the time, showing an overall decrease in most types of AMU. The study has received renewed funding to 2027, to expand its scope. This not only contributes to the fight against AMR, but it highlights just one example of the industry’s proactive approach to the problem. 

Other studies have been taking place across the country, with research organizations like Swine Innovation Porc (SIP) continuing to support projects that aim to reinforce the judicious use of antimicrobials when they are needed, and to encourage their reduction through practical means. The most compelling aspect of this transition, for producers, is the cost saving associated with using fewer production inputs. With that in mind, it’s clear the industry is moving in the right direction, with progress quickly being made.

Hog production is already federally regulated

When it comes to “regulat[ing]… industrial animal agriculture,” the clause is over-simplified to the point of being deliberately misleading.

The National Farm Animal Care Council’s (NFACC) Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pigs, for instance, outlines recommendations and requirements for various aspects of production, including herd health management, humane treatment and disease response.

The small but vocal minority of critics argue that the code is insufficient to ensure adherence, and that code itself doesn’t do enough to protect pigs; however, when it comes to adherence to the code, the industry itself is largely responsible for its implementation. That fact concerns extremists who would rather see an end to animal agriculture through any means – even if politically authoritarian – rather than its constant improvement, which tends to be industry-led.

NFACC’s purpose is laid out in a black-and-white fashion: “NFACC’s scope concerns national animal care issues related to farmed animals, with a primary focus on animals raised for the production of food for humans.” From the outset, anyone opposed to this purpose is going to take issue with the organization. While the industry and activists will have to ‘agree to disagree’ on NFACC’s core mandate, it’s worth noting that NFACC’s membership includes representation from various sectors, including the industry itself, veterinary professionals and even animal welfare groups.

Likewise, Canadian Pork Excellence (CPE), covering more than 99 per cent of all hog production in Canada, stipulates best practices meant to create conformity in production, including animal health. CPE is the veterinary-audited quality assurance certification that producers need to be able to sell their hogs to slaughter facilities licenced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Without CPE certification, a producer’s options to market pigs would be greatly diminished, which would be counter-intuitive, business-wise.

Moreover, even beyond the extensive programming and monitoring that voluntarily cover disease prevention in Canadian hog production, anyone concerned with potential mistreatment should refer to their provincial authorities’ existing legislation on animal care, which is backed by enforcement powers that are usually delegated to humane societies and SPCAs. Some SPCAs have drifted increasingly toward stronger activist sympathies, while others, like the Alberta SPCA, continue to foster goodwill, understanding and partnership with the industry, which provides the best outcomes for all.

Playing favourites and deceiving consumers

Perhaps the most outrageous of the three clauses of concern is the “promot[ion]” of “alternative proteins.” Understandably, these proteins are an alternative to meat, which comes from livestock. That’s obvious, but explaining it this way truly distills its intent: Bill C-293 is asking the federal government to side with plant-based protein manufacturers, at the expense of livestock producers and meat processors.

Not only is this particular clause fundamentally flawed, but it speaks to the growing ideology that meat isn’t good for you. Another prominent example is the newest version of Canada’s Food Guide, published in 2019, which conspicuously snubbed animal-based foods. As most nutritionists and dieticians will tell you, that’s simply not good for your health, yet the rhetoric persists, disguised as policy reform. Perhaps most importantly, it has nothing to do with pandemic prevention or preparedness, making its presence in the bill all that more ominous and inappropriate.

Will Bill C-293 come to fruition?

Bill C-293 is a reflection of its time, in terms of the COVID-19 fallout, food fads, and the federal political atmosphere. Canadians’ sense of public health is heightened, some are beginning to reduce or cease consumption of animal-based foods.

Bill C-293 demands that a comprehensive plan be developed and presented in Parliament within two years of its passage. The text of the bill concludes with a proposed amendment to the Department of Health Act, which would appoint a Public Health Agency of Canada official as the coordinator responsible for implementing the plan.

This is where the specifics end and uncertainty begins. The appointed coordinator would have significant power over the livestock industry and meat processing to make sweeping decisions, under the right circumstances, that could be incredibly disruptive to the Canadian pork value chain.

Is all hope lost? Not even close. Bill C-293 represents activist propaganda flying under the radar of politicians who, like all of us, understand the importance of pandemic prevention and preparedness, but that doesn’t mean tearing down a prominent industry that is responsible for feeding tens of millions of Canadians and even more abroad.

Even if passed, farming groups and concerned Canadians should continue to fight hard against legislation that unreasonably discriminates against livestock and animal-based foods, for the sustainability of their livelihoods and the ability to continue supplying high-quality, delicious, nutritious protein to a hungry world. In the end, we also need to be mindful of food security, sustainability, affordability and safety.

By René Roy

Editor’s note: René Roy is Chair, Canadian Pork Council. He can be contacted at ‘roy@cpc-ccp.com.’

When the topic of sustainability in animal agriculture is raised, very often, it’s misunderstood or misinterpreted.

Last year, the Government of Canada published a discussion paper for its ‘Sustainable Agriculture Strategy’ (SAS), which describes a proposed approach to improving agricultural practices in Canada. Unfortunately, the ambition of the strategy outweighs its ability to be practically implemented by the Canadian pork sector. In short, there simply aren’t enough available resources to drive change.

Recognizing the need to clearly articulate its response to the SAS, the Canadian Pork Council (CPC) board of directors recently unveiled our sustainability framework, including a 25-year outlook for the sector, to 2050. The framework includes environmental stewardship, animal health and care, consumer health and food safety, and economic resilience.

Taken together, CPC’s sustainability framework reflects a broader yet more refined approach that is tailored to the unique needs of Canada’s hog producers, including setting realistic short- and medium-term goals that will lay the foundation for long-term targets.

More than just paying lip service to eco-consciousness, sustainability in our sector reflects our commitment to a greener future both for the sake of the environment and for the ongoing viability of pig and pork production, which not only employs thousands of Canadians and feeds millions in Canada and around the world but also adds $24 billion to the national economy every year.

Looking at CPC’s sustainability framework and its principles through the lens of on-farm applications, we find plenty of examples showcasing the great work of producers, reflected in every major hog-producing region in the country.

Renewable energy benefits barns

John Van Engelen runs a 350-sow, farrow-to-finish operation east of Sarnia, Ontario, with help from his daughter and son-in-law – and just about every piece of state-of-the-art barn technology you can imagine.

“I’ve pretty much got everything that’s out there,” said Van Engelen. “We’re doing everything here as efficiently as possible.”

For Van Engelen, that means using modern ventilation, precision feeders and powering his farm exclusively with renewable electricity.

“We have a wind turbine, and we’re in the process of installing solar panels on the roof of our barn,” said Van Engelen. “We actually over-produce power and sell some back to the grid. The cheque I get is as big as my bill!”

Van Engelen’s innovative approach not only supports the principles of sustainability but also contributes directly to herd health and biosecurity.

“Our barn is completely Wi-Fi-linked, and I have RFID [radio-frequency identification] tags on all my animals,” said Van Engelen. “That way, I can track their individual performance and make adjustments to feed rations, as needed.”

Van Engelen’s feeders eliminate waste by automatically dispensing carefully calculated portions six times daily, with two different diets for sows and two different diets for weaners and finishers. His feeders include a Bluetooth-enabled trigger in case hungry pigs would like more feed, which allows Van Engelen to make that happen whether he’s in the barn or anywhere, from his phone.

“I might be in the barn 12 hours a day, but it monitors the barn 24/7,” said Van Engelen. “The fact we have full internet connectivity on our farm helps a lot. Not everyone has that, unfortunately.”

Keeping barns at optimal temperature in the dead of a Canadian winter is a challenge all producers can relate to. Van Engelen fights the elements with the help of an AirWorks Ventilation System heat exchanger built out of field tiles and constructed to capture and recycle heat that exits through fans.  

“When it’s minus-25 degrees-Celsius outside, I can bring that air back into my barn at zero,” said Van Engelen. “The [AirWorks] system I use means that the recycled air is exceptional quality, with no ammonia or harmful gases.”

At the heart of it all, sustainability for Van Engelen is about more than just saving energy and costs, but a decades-long legacy and the ability to be as self-sufficient as possible.

“When things break down, we like to fix them ourselves,” said Van Engelen. “We’re also in succession planning right now. My parents came to Canada more than 60 years ago, and I’ve been at this for more than 40 years. We’re happy to see the farm continuing with the next generation.”

Bang for your buck by combining energy streams

Chris Waldner is the electrician for Hartland Colony, which includes a 650-sow, farrow-to-finish operation, southeast of Edmonton. Six years ago, the farm installed a combined heat and power (CHP) unit to offset their energy usage and recover otherwise-wasted heat, which has helped power their entire colony – not only the farming side but also their homes, school, church and other common buildings. Recovered heat is used as part of the canola-crushing process to separate the canola meal from the oil, serving the farm and providing another income stream.

CHP uses a feedstock like natural gas, methane or biogas, which is efficiently combusted to power an electrical generator. While CHP is better-known for powering large commercial and industrial buildings, it’s becoming increasingly popular on farms.

“Wherever it’s possible to cut costs on the farm, it makes sense,” said Waldner. “This technology has been around in Europe for a long time, so we went over there ourselves to see if it would work for us.”

The CHP unit – manufactured by TEDOM, in Czechia – initially cost more than $600,000 all-in, from purchase to delivery to installation. In just over three years of operation, the capital cost was considered completely recovered, slightly quicker than anticipated, and well before the machine’s useful life expires. It is estimated to be running for another decade, at the bare minimum.

Initially, Hartland’s unit was operating at around 85 per cent capacity, based on need, but starting in mid-2020, the colony was offered a new contract by its utility supplier to be credited for unused electricity.

“At this point, the machine has more than paid for itself,” said Waldner. “We’re running at 100 per cent capacity, all day, all night, and we’re now even putting excess electricity back into the grid.”

The success of Hartland’s first unit prompted them to purchase another nearly two years ago. They opted to go with a $750,000 unit manufactured by Missouri-based Martin Energy Group. Like the first unit, that initial investment is expected to be recovered in a fraction of the time compared to the technology’s lifespan. So far, the newer unit is about half paid-off.

“You’re going to spend a lot for electricity one way or the other,” said Waldner. “Why not invest in the equipment instead?”

Having two units functioning simultaneously has worked excellently for Hartland. In January 2024 alone, the farm earned more than $50,000 selling electricity back to the grid while providing for all of its own needs. Hartland’s success has resonated with neighbouring farms, and so far, more than 10 others are actively investigating or purchasing their own CHP units.

But electricity is not the only form of energy that’s being recycled on Canadian hog farms. Manure represents one of the most widely available and useful products that is fuelling crop growth and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers and related nitrous oxide emissions – another climate-related target for our federal government.

Manure provides valuable nutrients to crops

Peter Gross is the hog barn manager for Sunnydale Colony’s 1,000-sow, farrow-to-finish operation, west of Saskatoon. Three years ago, he began using a device – the John Deere HarvestLab 3000 – that would prove to be a game-changer for precision manure application.

“Before using it, we didn’t realize how much of our manure we were wasting,” said Gross. “If you have a wet or dry year, your field will have different nutritional needs when you go to spread manure in the fall, but applying the right amount in the right places is crucial.”

Because hog manure is incredibly variable in terms of its nutrient profile, lab testing is a necessary but time-consuming first step to being able to use it.

“I used to sample our manure pit at different intervals over several days, then send that out for testing, which took time and money,” said Gross. “Once we started using the new device, we took a sample to validate the levels it was dispensing, and it was very accurate. It does what it claims to.”

The HarvestLab 3000, which retails for around $65,000, measures nutrient levels and makes real-time adjustments to tractor speed based off of the data it contains.

“It’ll speed the tractor up if the nitrogen level is stronger, and it’ll slow the tractor down if it’s weaker,” said Gross. “Last year, we were able to do double the number of acres compared to two years before, and our crop was better compared to when we weren’t using the device.”

Incorporating the technology into Sunnydale’s operation is part of a full-scale transformation.

“You can’t get any better than high-quality, rich, organic manure,” said Gross. “We’ve actually converted entirely to sustainable farming. We try to avoid using any chemical inputs anymore, not only because it’s less environmentally friendly and costs more, but because we’re getting better performance this way.”

According to Gross, some of the grains grown as part of Sunnydale’s crop production are used in their hog rations. Gross believes Sunnydale’s manure-fertilized barley has provided additional gut health benefits compared to conventional barley that’s been desiccated prior to harvest.

“We’ve proven that you don’t need to run the sprayer through the crop before harvest,” said Gross. “The more years we go without using chemicals on our land, the better our land gets.”

Looking at manure differently

When Sylvain Bouffard wanted to expand his 550-sow, farrow-to-finish operation into a 1,500-sow operation two years ago, manure management became important to consider. Whereas many commercial hog farms use manure pits and lagoons to store waste for long periods of time, Bouffard wanted to explore his options. With no crops of his own to fertilize, he began looking for novel opportunities.

“Our industry faces a lot of pressure to do better,” said Bouffard. “For me, looking for alternatives to traditional manure storage makes sense for everyone, including the public and the environment.”

Bouffard’s farm, located in the Beauce region, southeast of Quebec City, is found in one of Canada’s most densely concentrated spots for intensive hog production, placing it in a position of frequent scrutiny. It’s for that reason Solugen Global – a supplier of nitrogen-based fertilizer made from livestock waste – purchased its processing facility in nearby Lévis. After two years and more than $20 million of renovations later, earlier this year, the company commercialized its flagship product, called ‘Azogen.’

“In recent years, the concept of a circular economy has gained traction across various industries as a sustainable alternative to the traditional linear economic model of ‘take, make, dispose,’” said André Beaulieu Blanchette, President & CEO, Solugen. “Azogen exemplifies the application of circular economy principles in agriculture by reducing greenhouse gases that commonly result from conventional manure storage and surface application to crop fields.”

Solugen Global started its journey with Bouffard as its first client and has since recruited other hog producers in the Beauce region, from whom the company collects manure every day, Monday through Friday. For producers, it eliminates the need to store the manure and reduces odours by around 90 per cent – a major benefit to the surrounding community.

“We are able to process up to 150,000 tonnes of manure a year, which represents about 150,000 finishing pigs’ worth,” said Blanchette. “Our goal is not just to take the manure and transform it for our own purposes but to establish long-term partnerships with our producers who supply it.”

Solugen Global subjects the collected manure to a screw press system to separate the liquid and solid components. Following separation, liquid components are heated through a propriety process that generates several sub-products, including clean water and a nutrient-rich solution. The water is filtered and returned to the local municipal system, while the organic solution is turned into Azogen.

Azogen is endorsed by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) as an authorized product for use in organic production in the U.S.; however, at present, the product is not yet authorized for use in organic agriculture in Canada. Nevertheless, Azogen is registered as a fertilizer by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and can still be used in conventional agriculture. Currently, all sales of Azogen are to U.S.-based distributors for organic and regenerative agriculture. While sales are strong, Blanchette looks forward to advancing the organic approval process in Canada.

“Ultimately, we have a disagreement over product claims,” said Blanchette. “We’re excited to build our brand in Canada and hope that we can overcome this regulatory hurdle.”

Sustainability fatigue isn’t hard to come by in agriculture, on account of costs and barriers like red tape, in Solugen Global’s case. For most hog producers, financing is the single biggest challenge to overcome. 

Investment is key to implementation

Kevin Kurbis is the Director of Hog Solutions for AgriHub: a group of brands working together to serve livestock sectors in Manitoba and across western Canada. In his experience with hog producers, Kurbis has noticed a lot of common challenges and potential solutions, both short- and long-term.

“Over the last while, the mentality has been, ‘fix what you have to,’” said Kurbis. “For example, if you spend $50,000 up front to purchase some new equipment, and the energy savings make it pay for itself in two years, producers understand the math, but the cash just isn’t there for a lot of them.”

Echoing many across the industry, Kurbis believes a combination of unfortunate market forces and unfavourable investment is making it difficult for producers to make efficiency improvements.

“The solution isn’t necessarily more government money but more secured access to capital,” said Kurbis. “Even as interest rates cool, costs aren’t. The new reality of inputs is that everything is higher. The only way it can be sustainable is if the market changes.”

Despite costs, Kurbis believes that ingenuity can continue to play a role.

“Not all savings are obvious. There’s the hidden expense of feed conversion that is often overlooked,” said Kurbis. “If a producer can improve that, it’s actually going to have a higher payback than saving a bit of electricity. It’s just hard to quantify.”

During this year’s MAGAPOR International Technical Meeting, in Spain, Kurbis was invited to speak to the environmental impact of sows.

“Heating and ventilation are obviously needed in a country like Canada, but cooling isn’t something we talk a lot about, for instance,” said Kurbis. “Some of the technologies being developed like cooling pads are showing some pretty impressive health impacts, which can make sows less energy-dependent, reducing their need for feed.”

Altogether, Kurbis is hopeful that producers are able to realize the potential within their operations and work toward solutions that lower their environmental footprint while saving them money.

“All efficiency improvements are based on your starting point,” said Kurbis. “The more room you have to improve, the more attractive it might be for you to start making changes.”

And while hog producers across Canada range in terms of their ability to become more sustainable, there are several commonalities working against them: the federal government’s lofty climate goals, lack of access to applicable financial support and a carbon tax that is driving up costs and making Canadian pork less competitive relative to other jurisdictions.

Producers are committed but need support

Above all, sustainability improvements in the Canadian pork sector have not been achieved overnight; they’ve taken decades of research, development, testing and appropriate financing to see great ideas turned into practical solutions – and they still have a long way to go.

While Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP) funding programs can support the transition toward the use of clean technologies in agriculture, inconsistency in their delivery and criteria make them difficult to access.

Moreover, the annually increasing carbon tax continues to threaten many operations that are already facing pressures beyond their control. Heating barns promotes a high standard of animal welfare, but producers today have few viable options except to use natural gas or propane for this purpose.

Despite the best efforts of producers, and despite government funding to match capital investments into technology, the bridge to net-zero agricultural emissions by 2050 – a federal government commitment made in 2021 – still appears well out-of-reach.

At the most basic level, Canada’s hog producers are often fighting a losing battle against political pressures that are making sustainability a monumental task. Unless policy-makers can meet the sector halfway and recognize the work already done, along with providing adequate support for work in the future, it’s unlikely we will get there.

Even so, Canada’s hog producers are leading the way as defenders of food safety, food security, food affordability and food sustainability. The CPC’s sustainability framework serves as a roadmap to long-term success by providing opportunities to explore innovations and efficiencies in hog production, enhancing the Canadian pork sector’s competitiveness and leadership in the global marketplace.