Pig Progress

Stewart Houston, Red Tractor board chair, addressing the audience at the Pig & Poultry Fair 2026. Photo: Tony McDougal Tricky domestic market conditions, fears of growing pressure from animal welfare groups and how to better export pigmeat. Those were some of the key issues discussed at this year’s British Pig & Poultry Fair , held 10–11 May 2026. First of all – the United Kingdom’s pig backlog, dating back to the autumn of 2025, is proving difficult to shift.

It’s nearly time to reveal our brand new initiative in the agri-food space. It’s an exciting time at Misset International – with a new addition designed to complement our established titles and extend our reach across the agri-food value chain. We will connect a wider, more interlinked audience, provide fresh perspective and expand our coverage to deliver broader, deeper insights that address the evolving needs of the agri-food community.

Pig Progress reports on the latest business news and updates from the global pig industry, including strong financial rebounds from European Protein, sustainability milestones from Nutreco and Hendrix Genetics, ADM’s footprint expansion in Brazil, and a new processed pork venture in Asia. This and more. Despite a challenging specialised protein market, Danish fermented protein producer European Protein doubled its EBITDA year-on-year in 2025.

Carbon reduction in swine production does not have to be a story of disruption. When producers are equipped to measure, model, act, and remeasure, they can make better-informed decisions and track whether changes are delivering the intended outcomes. Photo: Trouw Nutrition Carbon reduction in swine production does not have to be a story of disruption.

Ronald van der Vorst, Foodbytes (left) and Jeroen van Hooff, CEO of Jaarbeurs, during the announcement of the acquisition at VIV Europe 2026. Photo: Vincent ter Beek Jaarbeurs, the organising company of animal husbandry trade show network VIV Worldwide, has acquired food and agri innovation platform Foodbytes, from Rabobank. That news was shared during the opening day of the 2026 edition of VIV Europe, in Utrecht, the Netherlands.

A new pig syndrome, described last year in the Netherlands, has now been found in many different farms throughout the Netherlands. The syndrome is linked to a variant of parvovirus similar to one found in fox faeces in 2012. Mid-2025, the syndrome’s existence was reported by Royal GD, the Netherlands’ animal health service. It had been around since late 2024 and was characterised by bulging eyes, a red, balding and wrinkled skin and was reported not to be fatal. At the time the syndrome h

High hygiene standards promote piglet health and productivity, while also supporting sustainability by reducing mortality, minimising treatments and lowering production losses. Photo: CID Lines Modern pig production creates ideal conditions for microorganisms: warmth, moisture, organic matter and the continuous presence of animals. These reservoirs increase disease pressure, impair performance and can drive antibiotic use.

Real-time detection and monitoring of behaviour using computer vision. Illustration: ILVO The second edition of theAI4Animal Science Conference will soon be held in Ghent, Belgium. From June 29 until July 1, 2026, researchers, industry and stakeholders will jointly explore the latest developments in artificial intelligence (AI) in animal science. The conference, taking place at Ghent University, will focus on applications that improve efficiency, sustainability, animal health, and welfare.

As is often the case, at the recent outbreaks of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), pig farms got infected because of human behaviour. Recent waves of FMD outbreaks have affected 2 territories within the European Union in recent months: Cyprus and Lesvos (an island in the Greek archipelago). The virus is highly contagious, is considered a notifiable disease and is tackled by culling the entire herd as soon as the virus is established. The virus can affect cattle, sheep, goats and of course pigs.

Only 1 week to go before the winner of the Sustainability Impact Award will be revealed during an event at VIV Europe, Utrecht, the Netherlands. On the day of the grand award ceremony, readers are able to get to know more about all 5 finalists at a separate round-table discussion at the showgrounds. The topic of the round-table, organised by Misset International, is “Sustainability and profit: can you have both?” On stage will be representatives of all 5 contenders.