Pig Circular Economy and Reducing Food Waste

Circular food systems that use agricultural by-products in pig feed reduce waste while potentially improving pig dietary diversity and welfare.

Key Facts

Pigs have been used to convert food waste and agricultural by-products into food for millennia
EU and UK bans on catering waste feeding to pigs (swill) were implemented after the 2001 FMD outbreak
Food industry by-products including bakery waste, brewery grains, and fruit pulp are legally fed to pigs
These diverse by-product diets may provide behavioral enrichment through dietary variety
Circular food system advocates argue that safe, regulated swill feeding should be reconsidered
Biosecurity protocols including heat treatment can address pathogen risks from food waste feeding

Welfare Considerations

Dietary diversity from agricultural by-products may provide behavioral welfare benefits through foraging variety, mirroring natural omnivorous feeding patterns. The circular economy case for regulated food waste feeding aligns welfare, sustainability, and economic interests. However, safety protocols are essential - the 2001 FMD outbreak caused mass animal suffering and death following biosecurity failures. Policy reform in this area must prioritize both welfare and biosecurity.

What You Can Do

Support research and policy discussion on safe, regulated food waste feeding for pigs
Reduce personal food waste to decrease the environmental burden that circular systems must address
Engage with food system discussions that consider both sustainability and animal welfare
Support farms using approved food industry by-products in pig feed
Share information about the welfare and environmental potential of circular pig feeding
Advocate for science-based policy on food waste feeding that prioritizes safety and welfare