What are the challenges for the development of organic pig production in France?

Abstract

French organic pig production is very diverse. This results from differences in pig farming systems, in terms of the size of the farms, with many small farms; from differences in pork market, with a long chain well established in the west of France, and more territorialized short chains; and from the multiplicity of its actors that are specific to organic farming (OF) or mixed. Although the number of sows certified in OF has doubled between 2016 and 2021, it represents only 1.9% of the total French pig production. In view of this, the ORIGAMI consortium (INRAE-Metabio) has conducted a study to analyse the brakes and levers to the development of this production. Interviews with 21 stakeholders of the pork sector identified 164 obstacles and 231 levers. Multiple component analyses followed by a classification revealed seven types of brakes and six types of levers according to their level of organisation (from the animal to the territory) and the position within the food chain (from agri-supply to consumption). Interpretation of these typologies allows us to identify research themes to meet the main challenges. These concern the acquisition of technical references specific for OF, the deepening connection between sectors and territories, the promotion of pork product markets, but also the training of current and future actors and the communication with the general public. These topics provide research and development actors with thoughts for the construction of transdisciplinary projects.