The pork sector plays a fundamental role in achieving healthier, more resilient, equitable, inclusive and sustainable food systems and, therefore, in reaching the 2030 Agenda and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which is why the Food System Summit was convened in 2021. With this Dialogue, the pork sector wants to contribute to the achievement of these objectives, transferring to society its commitment to building more sustainable and resilient Food Systems, and to continue feeding the world while protecting the planet.

Therefore, with this Dialogue, INTERPORC seeks to build on the first Dialogue organized in 2021, entitled “The livestock-meat chain and its compliance with the SDGs: future challenges.” On this occasion, we will study in more detail the current state of the Spanish pork sector, focusing on the pork meat production. We will analize the current state of the sector and the progress made and we will promote discussion and debate around strategies to achieve a value chain that is climate neutral and, at the same time, committed to sustainability in its triple aspect: environmental, economic and social.

We find ourselves in a complex food system in which a great variety of elements converge that we must take into account -social, economic, environmental, consumer demands, etc. In this context, we will address the role that meat should play in any balanced diet, promoting the health of different population groups and the well-being of people; the opportunities to advance in the development of our model, and the technologies on which it  relies, to increase the levels of environmental sustainability; the need to maintain profitable economic activity in rural areas, as a guarantee of activity in areas at risk of depopulation, and the strategy to retain young people and women in this environment; as well as the advances and challenges in matters such as innovation, food safety, traceability, animal welfare or labeling and the way in which these are strengthened within the framework of the digital transformation process of our economy.

In the same way, in order to achieve a vision as varied and broad as possible, we will once again seek to give voice to representatives of all the links in the value chain, since they all, in one way or another, play a role in the Food Systems: consumers, farmers, NGOs, companies, retail, veterinarians, agronomists, researchers, representatives of public administrations, communication professionals, political representatives, etc., always seeking a real diversity in terms of sex and age. Everyone will have a place in this Independent Dialogue.

In summary, the need for strong and resilient food systems has become evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, in which the Spanish pork sector has maintained its commitment to providing the world with a healthy source of protein, despite the restrictions of movements. The tragedy of the war in Ukraine has made the need to ensure food supply to the population in an efficient and safe way even more relevant.. Therefore, with this Dialogue, we want to demonstrate and encourage the sector’s capacity to contribute to continue feeding the world, but also its capacity to protect the planet.