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How pork production has evolved over the last 25 years

The following dynamic graph shows us how pork production (in millions of tons) has evolved over the last 25 years as well as the rankings by country and how these have been changing.

We observed sustained growth in China until the appearance of African swine fever in 2018 and how, after a spectacular drop, pork production has been recovering.

Regarding the ranking of the top-producing countries, we see there has been no movement for the first four places in the last 25 years if we consider the EU as a whole. We observe how Russia and Vietnam were climbing positions against Canada.

This changes when we break the EU into countries (Figure 2), where Spain made a breakthrough in 2020, becoming the main EU producer, ousting Germany, which lost 20 years of hegemony, becoming the third world producer after China and the United States, until last year when it was overtaken by Brazil.

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CEOs of the Industry: John McIntire, Partner at Pike Pig Systems

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CEOs of the Industry, Jim sits down with John McIntire, Partner at Pike Pig Systems, one of the most quietly impressive 26,000-sow operations in the U.S. John shares how he grew from operator to partner, how Pike built a people-first culture with long-tenured managers, and why they’re committed to weaning bigger, stronger pigs at 25+ days.

John breaks down how Pike stays efficient in a tough economic environment, the power of their shareholder-owned farm model, and how their work with PIC and a 240-head boar facility drives genetics and health outcomes. He also opens up about the innovations Pike adopts — and how they decide what’s truly valuable versus industry hype.

From Prop 12 and labor challenges to trade, consumer expectations, and sustainability, John chooses a hot-button issue and shares how Pike is preparing for the future. The episode closes with a rapid-fire “Fast Five” — mindset, leadership, daily habits, and three words that define Pike Pig Systems in 2025.

If you want a look inside a people-driven, purpose-driven, quietly elite pork system, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.