QUALIPORK

The market share of organic pork is still low in Denmark and the EU, indicating significant growth potential but also a need to adapt the sector to consumer expectations. European consumers highly value animal welfare when paying extra cost for pork. Specifically for organic pork, production methods such as 'free-range' and 'natural foraging' are highly valued among consumers. However, only a few organic pigs are raised free-range from birth to slaughter. This is partly due to challenges with nitrogen leaching and the practical difficulties it entails for the organic pig producer.

Project Purpose

The goal of QUALIPORK is to strengthen the competitiveness of Danish organic pork in national and global markets by promoting multidimensional quality from 'farm to fork'. The project aims to achieve this by exploring, developing, and demonstrating an alternative to the current organic slaughter pig production. A central focus is to offer pigs stimulus-rich free-range environments and seasonal foraging crops. This is expected to promote animal welfare (quality of pig life), reduce the climate footprint, and optimize feed supply and nutrient cycling in the field (quality of the environment). 

The quality of the pork is improved through on-field slaughter and meat maturation (quality of pork). Barriers and opportunities for communicating these quality parameters are identified in both national and global value chains. The project acknowledges the practical difficulties of keeping slaughter pigs free-range and therefore develops specialized free-range equipment and a decision support tool to make operations more efficient.

At the same time, the project will design free-range areas to maximize feed supply in the field, retain nutrients, and reduce the climate footprint of organic pork. To ensure that the quality generated in primary production is preserved and transferred to consumers, new strategies to improve meat quality, such as on-field slaughter and pork maturation, are implemented. To promote a market-driven development of high-quality organic pork, QUALIPORK also investigates opportunities and barriers for communicating and valuing the three quality dimensions in national and global value chains.

Project Step by Step

Five key areas of focus in QUALIPORK to promote a market-driven development of high-quality organic pork:

1. Investigate the relationship between the quality of the local environment and animal welfare indicators, with a particular focus on the pig's mental well-being and quality of life (quality of pig life).
2. Evaluate how free-range pigs can be integrated into crop production to improve feed supply and nutrient management in the field and reduce the climate footprint (quality of the environment).
3. Explore methods to improve meat quality when pigs are produced free-range and test seasonally differentiated slaughter weight (quality of pork).
4. Develop and demonstrate new solutions, tools, and equipment to reduce practical challenges in the production of free-range slaughter pigs.
5. Identify challenges and opportunities for communicating and highlighting the value of multidimensional quality dimensions - both in the domestic market and internationally.