Is sustainability in the meat sector perceived the same across the pond? To answer briefly: no, there is a real divide. A Dutch and two American pig farmers agreed to disagree. Annechien ten Have, the Dutchwoman, said it striking: “I feel a big pond between us.”
Who is Who?
Brad Freking is CEO and managing partner of New Fashion Pork, a top-25 producer of pork in the US with operations in Minnesota, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Wisconsin. Note: New Fashion Pork has nothing to do with fashion. Freking has a keen eye for global developments in the meat industry.
Trent Loos, a sixth generation U.S. rancher based in Central Nebraska. With his Loos Tales, he is dedicated to bridging the gap between rural and urban America. His radio program is broadcasted by 100 stations in 19 states, reaching out to 3 million listeners.
Annechien ten Have runs a family pig farm (Hamletz), arable farm and a biogas plant in province of Groningen in the north-east of The Netherlands. Hamletz® is a new brand of pork from a Dutch pig breed with animal-friendly housing and energy-neutral operations. She is well known in the world of meat.
Brad Freking is CEO and managing partner of New Fashion Pork, a top-25 producer of pork in the US with operations in Minnesota, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Wisconsin. Note: New Fashion Pork has nothing to do with fashion. Freking has a keen eye for global developments in the meat industry.
Trent Loos, a sixth generation U.S. rancher based in Central Nebraska. With his Loos Tales, he is dedicated to bridging the gap between rural and urban America. His radio program is broadcasted by 100 stations in 19 states, reaching out to 3 million listeners.
Annechien ten Have runs a family pig farm (Hamletz), arable farm and a biogas plant in province of Groningen in the north-east of The Netherlands. Hamletz® is a new brand of pork from a Dutch pig breed with animal-friendly housing and energy-neutral operations. She is well known in the world of meat.
We also have a farm that focusses on animal welfare. It is called old fashion pork. This is the least sustainable of all our farmsWhat is sustainable?
Annechien ten Have has a simple definition of sustainability, “so people can understand. In a nutshell it is being good for the animal, for the farmer, and for the environment.” Interestingly, she has difficulty in finding consumers who are willing to pay for welfare and sustainability. Annechien developed a pig variety that produces tasty meat and added flavor to her concept of sustainability.
Brad Freking holds an American perspective on sustainability. He admits it is a difficult question to answer, since everyone has a different definition. “It’s doing the most with least.”
“The term sustainability has been highjacked”, Trent Loos states passionately. “True sustainability is that we continue to produce a tasty and desirable protein product for consumers. A product they are willing to afford and have access to.” Trent is frustrated. In his opinion, farmers define sustainability. Not marketing companies, retailers, and restaurants that are “now trying to establish sustainability programs so that farmers can become sustainable. Farmers have continued generation after generation to find a way to produce more with less.” In a way farming, as Trent defines it, is the quintessence of sustainability.
Animal welfare
Brad feels Annechien wrongly includes animal wellbeing in her definition of sustainability. “We also have a farm that focusses on animal welfare", Brad says "It is called old fashion pork. This is the least sustainable of all our farms.” Brad prefers intensive pork husbandry by far. Across the pond of the Atlantic, there is a big divide on sustainability.
What is your opinion on sustainability in the World of Meat? Let's discuss the perspective from a range of nationalities across the world.
Animal Welfare in The Netherlands: the Star System
Annechien ten Have briefly mentioned the star system for animal welfare in The Netherlands.
In 2007 the Dutch organization Dierenbescherming (The Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals) introduced the Better Life Label. This system stimulates the improvement of animal welfare in animal husbandry systems for the production of meat, dairy and eggs. From animal genetics and farmers to supermarkets (and all links in between), everything is monitored to ensure the whole process is in line with the criteria outlined by the Dierenbescherming.
Up to three stars can be found on the packaging of animal products. In general, the more stars, the more space and better ‘derivation material’. However, the exact standards vary amongst types of animal. The three levels provide the possibility to improve animal welfare step by step.
Annechien ten Have briefly mentioned the star system for animal welfare in The Netherlands.
In 2007 the Dutch organization Dierenbescherming (The Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals) introduced the Better Life Label. This system stimulates the improvement of animal welfare in animal husbandry systems for the production of meat, dairy and eggs. From animal genetics and farmers to supermarkets (and all links in between), everything is monitored to ensure the whole process is in line with the criteria outlined by the Dierenbescherming.
Up to three stars can be found on the packaging of animal products. In general, the more stars, the more space and better ‘derivation material’. However, the exact standards vary amongst types of animal. The three levels provide the possibility to improve animal welfare step by step.
World of Meat
A new story line on IFAMA: World of Meat. This is the first panel in this series. It provides an interesting view on differences across the pond.
The story line is still under construction. We need your input! Next month we will organize a webinar to discuss the World of Meat. Let’s decide together the content of this story line.
A new story line on IFAMA: World of Meat. This is the first panel in this series. It provides an interesting view on differences across the pond.
The story line is still under construction. We need your input! Next month we will organize a webinar to discuss the World of Meat. Let’s decide together the content of this story line.
Related
Dick, we will find out how harsh the implications are sooner or later. The harshness of the implications is not an argument to soften up the definition, neither is the fact if Brundtland realizes the consequences of her definition. It might be a reason though for being not capable to change our lifestyle to a more sustainable way of living, but that incapability does not implicate that the definition is too rational, or that we cannot meet the conditions to compromise future generations to meet their needs. The simple fact is that we don't want to do that, probably because we find those conditions too harsh to cope with. Softening up the definition or even change it towards a preferred way of living is what is happening next. It's practical and politically comfortable, but it distracts us from the very harsh reality.
Jos, I guess the definition is very rational. I would subscribe to it, just as you do. But ... it's true implications are rather harsh because of the laws of nature; we can't have our cake and eat it. I don't even know if Gro Harlem Brundtland is fully aware of them.
Dick, this is a very interesting statement; In practice, probably, the Bruntland definition is widely cited, but seldomly respected.
In fact it's not very different from the ongoing discussion about circular agriculture in The Netherlands. Is it correct to stretch or change a definition, solely because of the fact that that definition is, though correct, too confronting and not respected? I think not. I think it is a political way out to cope with problems too hard to solve. I have seen many definitions of sustainability, but Brundtland's short description still stands strong. However, it means a life which we don't want, which doesn't change anything to the definition itself.
Jeroen, Jos gave a definition. As said below, it would be a mistake to think there's a correct one. It's not a matter of natural law but rather of goals human beings set for themselves. I know: that sounds controversial.
In practice, probably, the Bruntland definition is widely cited, but seldomly respected.
#19 Jos, yes that is the picture and story I meant. Thank you for that.
I'm posting this from my holiday. Never ever have driven only 3 ours for my vacation. Today we had the first day on the mountainbike. where possible we talked about the forest in the Eiffel for the whole day. About the issues of the forest and what will become of the region. We talked about the change of rainfall because of the use of the mountains of lave. Some hills are completely gone as he showed us. I tell this to show how (little) change is possible. I enjoyed today just as much as I can do in the Alps and dolomites.
Dick Veerman to continue this conversation:
Did I (and Jos) anwer your question of what a sustainable pig is?