The third Local Pig Resource Protection and Development Forum opened on October 19 in Foshan, Guangdong, and will run for three days. Experts and scholars gathered in Guangdong to share advanced models and innovative technologies in local pig farming, aiming to facilitate the transformation and upgrading of the local pig industry.
Local pig breeds represent a vital genetic resource for the nation. As demand for high-quality pork products continues to grow, harnessing the advantages of local pig breeds to enhance pork quality is crucial for advancing the livestock industry.
“How to protect and utilize these rich and valuable genetic resources effectively is a key challenge facing local pig industry research,” said Li Kui, chief scientist at the Agricultural Genome Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS). He emphasized that the livestock sector is a significant component of the national economy, with the pig industry being a cornerstone of livestock production.
Quality breeds are essential for ensuring the healthy development of the livestock industry and are key to enhancing its core competitiveness. Li Jianmeng, Director of the Innovation Development Division of the Seed Industry Management Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, noted that efforts should focus on continuing the implementation of livestock genetic improvement plans. This includes breakthroughs in core technologies for breeding and support for significant biological breeding projects to enhance the production performance levels of breeding livestock. Furthermore, he advocated for continued support of research and educational institutions and pig enterprises in utilizing new technologies, methods, and genetic resources, while exploring the beneficial characteristics of local breeds in terms of meat quality, flavor, medicinal use, and cultural significance, thereby better meeting diverse consumer demands. Strengthening international cooperation in the pig breeding industry is also vital to showcase and promote the unique advantages and brand value of local pig breeds, enhancing their recognition and influence in global markets.
The forum features 16 thematic reports analyzing the current status and development trends of the local pig industry and examining market demands and consumer trends regarding local pig products.
The protection and development of local pig resources require a collective effort from society, involving collaboration between government, research institutions, and enterprises to overcome technical challenges and accelerate the application of technological achievements. Peng Wenjun, Director of the Technology Transfer Bureau at CAAS, emphasized that the growth of the pig industry is intrinsically linked to technological innovation and the effective transfer of research outcomes. Acting as the “national team” for agricultural research, CAAS’s technology transfer bureau is organizing a pig industry team to integrate the strengths of related teams throughout the academy, tasked with driving technological innovation and promoting high-quality development in the pig industry.
In the realm of livestock breeding, CAAS has established an efficient molecular breeding technology system and developed several new livestock breeds with independent intellectual property rights. Among them, the “Guangming No. 2,” “Huaxi Cattle,” and “Lansi Pig” breeding systems have passed national variety approvals. Additionally, the “Whale-Peng No. 1” pig breed, developed by the Tang Zhonglin team at the Agricultural Genome Research Institute of CAAS and the Foshan Kunpeng Modern Agricultural Research Institute, has entered its fourth generation of selection.
