Dr. Luciano Roppa
Senior Vice President of Provimi, Brazil

Alltech's 3rd International Forum on Pork Production: A Tribute to Dr. Des Cole

This year's International Forum on Pork Production featured discussions on urgent industry topics led by business and animal science leaders from around the world. Alltech hosts the event annually as a tribute to Dr. Des Cole, a pioneer in pig nutrition who laid the foundation for feeding the modern hyper prolific sow.

Dr. Luciano Roppa, Senior Vice President of Provimi, Brazil, led a lively discussion on opportunities and challenges facing the global meat industry. The meat industry, and the food industry as a whole will undergo dramatic changes over the next few decades as the world population grows to more than 9 billion. Farmers and producers need to plan for these changes to maintain or achieve profitability.

Roppa offered a three point plan for adapting to any type of change.

1. Fact - Understand the Facts
2. Impact - Evaluate the Impact
3. Act - Plan how to Act

Facts are unimpressive if you don't understand the associated impact. So, Roppa presented several facts and impacts that will affect the global meat industry.

1. Population growth will result in increased meat consumption.
2. Purchasing power will increase in many developing countries, which means that many people will increase meat consumption.
3. In many countries the population is aging so preference for poultry may increase in these areas.
4. The global population is becoming increasingly urban which means that demand for ready to cook meals will increase. This also means less availability of labor on farms.

Being aware of these trends is only half the battle. Being prepared to act is equally important. As population and demand for meat increase you must have a plan for the growth of your business. Will you expand locally or globally? Will you diversify or specialize? Will you provide processed convenience products? How will you develop your labor force? These are just some of the things that will need to be considered over the next twenty years.