Research is vital to the future of the industry but it is also vital that such research is targeted and relevant.

The British Pig Executive (BPEX) has produced a discussion document on which the views of all sides of industry are needed.

An extensive programme was commissioned by BPEX and Defra to discover how pig producers, the supply industry, government, research funders and academics view current pig related research and knowledge transfer in the UK, and how it should develop in the next 5-15 years.

Two major independent projects were undertaken and each looked at a separate area of pig related science from reproduction through to consumer nutrition and health through to environment.

The projects threw up a number of very important questions on which the industry and stakeholders need to have a view before the next steps can be taken.

BPEX Chief Executive Mick Sloyan said: "This document is vital for the future of the British pig industry to determine what sort of research is needed and how it should be targeted.

"Feedback from all sectors of the industry is the only way this can be achieved."

The two detailed reports on which the discussion document is based, together with a background to the British pig industry can be requested from the BPEX

Source: BPEX - 29th December 2004