Intensive pig farming and the environment in Mexico

Mexican pig farming has developed significantly in the last 25 years, although its basic characteristics have remained the same: a diversity of products, dependence on imports for foundation stock and feed, and the failure to internalize environmental costs. Environmental problems arise from the segregation of pig farming and agricultural activity, the existence of large pig concentrations at the regional and farm levels, the type of feeding systems used, the free supply and inefficient use of water and a shortage of trained personnel. Mexico has limited water resources and the heaviest pig concentrations are in regions where water is most scarce and polluted. A large number of farms have no waste treatment or recycling facilities and the country's environmental policy is based on prescriptive measures rather than economic incentives. In conclusion, any attempt to render pig production sustainable will be a medium-term undertaking at least, entailing changes in feeding systems, farm facilities and management techniques, together with human resource training and the establishment of interinstitutional and intersectoral environmental programmes tailored to the sector.