'Pig farming is certainly not an end of business'

When Wyno Zwanenburg was asked to become chairman of the Coalitie Vitale Varkenshouderij (Coviva), he didn't have to think twice. As a former pig farmer, the sector is close to his heart. Moreover, he believes the sector in the Netherlands has a future, although the challenges surrounding the revenue model and social support are not easy. "Pig farming is certainly not an end-of-life business, as you sometimes hear."

Zwanenburg started his new position this month and is currently doing a 'tour along the fields', as he calls it. This means: one-on-one conversations with companies and umbrella parties that participate in Coviva. He also spoke with Minister of Agriculture Piet Adema who, according to him, is full of praise for pig farming. "The fact that pig farming already has a timetable up to 2030 impressed him," I noticed. Zwanenburg does not participate in the agricultural agreement talks, but according to him pig farming is well represented by the POV, COV and Nevedi, who participate in the sector table

After Zwanenburg stopped his pig farm in 2016, he consciously distanced himself from the sector. With his consultancy company he did various jobs that are related to pig farming, but also outside it. He is also a lobbyist for FoodNL in Brussels and did work for Wageningen University. "I have deliberately operated behind the scenes in recent years, but will probably be more visible as chairman of Coviva."

You have been chairman of Coviva for a few weeks now. Where is the priority?
"The Coviva has five pillars, each of which is important and has priority. These include the climate challenges and the revenue model in the sector. We can approach the climate issue as an opportunity. Think of setting up chains with a low CO2 footprint of pork. The aim is to maintain critical mass as a sector. I cannot endorse animal numbers here, but the economies of scale must be maintained. Another priority is to make the Coviva more visible. short. He (René Coppens ed.) has set up an organization that stands well. The Coviva does more than I initially thought and is also not a talking club that thinks it knows how to do it all. Personally, I see my role mainly to It is extremely important that links in the chain seek cooperation and reinforce each other, in times when pig farming in Europe is changing rapidly."

What developments do you see?
"If you look at the major producing countries in Europe, a lot is happening. In Germany, the sector is shrinking rapidly, just like in Denmark. And the Spanish growth model is showing cracks. The European sector is moving towards a new balance, where we as the Netherlands We have to respond to this. Although we have to look for cooperation, there must also be room for market differentiation, for example in genetics. We have always been good at that."

Securing a good revenue model is what you call a priority, but it has been a topic of discussion in the sector for many years. How do you envision this?
"Then you end up with margin distribution in the chain, for example. How is the cake divided between parties in the chain, for example. At the moment, the pig farmer is often still the final item, that could perhaps be done differently. On the other hand, it is not the case that other links always making easy money in the chain, that is too simplistic. The pig cycle will continue to exist, and that is not a problem. The sector has been used to dealing with this from the past."

In addition to the revenue model, you mention the social support. The pig sector claims to be a global leader in this, can significant sustainability improvements still be made?
"In terms of animal welfare and food safety, pig farming is indeed playing at Champions League level, but that does not mean that there is no room for improvement. Reduction techniques are improving and welfare requirements are changing. Think of the docking ban that is coming. As a sector, we can "We are also improving ourselves in securing and communicating big data, which, for example, makes the CO2 footprint concrete. Especially if you are already ahead, you cannot relax. After all, top athletes only perform if they continue to train intensively."

In summary, you sound ambitious, but also optimistic…
"I am indeed optimistic. I see enough around me, including young, pig farmers who want to move forward with their business, that is a good thing. Dutch pig farming is not an end of business, as some would have you believe. Pork is being sold by a large group of people appreciated on the plate. This is also apparent from the meat consumption figures, which remain fairly stable. The fact that consumption is shrinking in Germany is, in my opinion, because there is a lot of silent poverty there and meat is not cheap at the moment. Don't lose sight of pig farming for BV Nederland. With the current meat prices, that could easily exceed € 10 billion."

Wouter Job

Wouter Baan is editor-in-chief of Boerenbusiness. He also focuses on dairy, pig and meat markets. He also follows (business) developments within agribusiness and interviews CEOs and policymakers.

w.baan@boerenbusiness. Nl

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