Mexico Aims for Pork Industry Growth, Sustainability

Julio Berdegué, Mexico’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), highlighted the need for the country’s pork industry to adopt sustainability and animal welfare practices to strengthen its resilience, productivity, and competitiveness during National Pork Industry Day on March 15.

Mexico currently imports 47% of its pork consumption. Berdegué emphasized that through collaboration and effective strategies, the country could produce the 1.4Mt needed to achieve self-sufficiency. Strengthening the National Service for Agri-Food Health, Safety and Quality (SENASICA) is crucial in this effort, particularly in addressing threats such as African swine fever, stressed the minister.

Berdegué underscored the importance of an integrated North American agri-food system. He highlighted the longstanding collaboration between Canada, the US, and Mexico in ensuring regional and global food security. Recently, Berdegué met with US and Canadian counterparts, Brooke Rollins and Lawrence MacAulay, to discuss animal and plant health, trade and scientific cooperation.

Homero García, President, National Confederation of Livestock Organizations (CNOG), recognized the contribution of Mexican pork producers. Meanwhile, Iván Espinosa, Executive President, Organization of Mexican Pork Producers (OPORMEX), noted the sector’s transformation into a modern and efficient industry and proposed structuring industry efforts around eight key pillars to ensure continued growth, sustainability and competitiveness.