Mainstreaming Green Growth in the Global Swine Industry

Global trade in pig meat is forecast to grow on an upward trend as it did between 2006 and 2015. But in meeting future higher demand for pig meat, growth in swine production and productivity has to occur sustainably because of the environmental problems that are associated with it. The pursuit of green growth is a strategic initiative towards achieving sustainable development and inclusive growth particularly for developing countries in Asia, such as the Philippines which ranked 8th in the world in terms of the carcass equivalent of swine production. Applying a comparative analysis of environmental indicators to a balanced panel dataset of 80 swine farm observations from top swine-producing regions of Central Luzon and South Luzon for 2002 and 2015, this paper examines whether swine production in the Philippines exhibits the characteristics of green growth. The paper also determines the potential and constraints of mainstreaming green growth in swine production. The results of the analysis reveal that swine farms exhibit green growth characteristic of pollution reduction but only to a certain degree, scale, and production arrangement. Mainstreaming green growth in swine production is not impossible but will entail many cost, market, financial, and institutional barriers to hurdle.