MEAT, FISH & POULTRY
South Africa’s pork industry is set for a revolution Pork producers in South Africa are forging ahead with innovation and optimism in uncertain times. The industry has changed drastically over the last few decades – with dietary concerns, disease outbreaks, climate change and other factors all playing a role. Brent Fairlie, CEO at one of South Africa’s largest pork producers, Lynca Meats, lets us in on why, in a country where chicken has always been a firm favourite, pork is poised to make a strong comeback.
S
outh Africa’s pork industry is relatively
The lower prices have opened the door
centre stage as a protein that fits as easily
large, contributing to around 2.15%
for chicken-wary consumers to expand
as any other into a healthy and balanced
to the local agricultural sector as a
their horizons and enjoy pork’s famous
lifestyle. Pork is rich in vitamin B12 and
whole, but accounting for only 7% of the
versatility and flavour. In the midst of yet
vitamin B6, potassium, iron and zinc. A palm
country’s total meat consumption. However,
another economic downturn, pork’s better
sized, 85g portion also gives you 22g of high-
recent trends indicate that there is plenty
price is making it attractive in cash-strapped
quality protein. The leanest cut (pork fillet
of room for expansion and South African
communities and that’s just the beginning of
or tenderloin) is as lean as skinless chicken
producers are leading the way.
the pork revolution.
breast, making it a great choice for the
“The pork industry has had a disruptive
health conscious.
few years,” explains Fairlie. “The Listeriosis
HEALTH AND DIETARY TRENDS
crisis had a major impact on consumer
People’s understanding of nutrition is far
confidence, then only a year later we were hit
beyond what it was just a couple of decades
ETHICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
with an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease,
ago, where people believed that all fat is
“With regards to the health of their families
followed soon after by Covid-19. These three
bad and all pork is fatty. Today, pork is taking
and their impact on the environment,
events effectively caused periodic significant reductions in the pork price, which all role players in the industry (farmers, abattoirs and retailers) passed on to the end consumer resulting in a long-term increase in the demand for pork. It is the only protein on the market today that is as affordable as it was four to five years ago,” says Fairlie.
"Pork is taking centre stage as a protein that fits as easily as any other into a healthy and balanced lifestyle."
consumers are understandably taking a much closer look at their choices in the supermarket,” said Fairlie. “Litre for litre, raising pigs is significantly less water intensive than raising cows, making it a more environmentally-friendly option than beef. Many people might be surprised to hear that South African farms are also world leaders in a more ethical way of treating their animals, moving away from high-volume factory farming toward more humane methods.” “South Africans consume about ten times as much chicken as pork, and now that the price per kilogram is more and more similar, we expect many more people to experiment with pork in their everyday cooking and for it to enjoy an even bigger spot on the braai in the future,” says Fairlie. After months of lockdown, millions of South Africans are more at home and are spending more time in the kitchen than ever before (and watching their household budgets more closely too). There’s never been a better time to start experimenting with new flavours on a budget - add pork to your daily protein! •
Lynca Meats - www.lyncameats.co.za
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October 2021 | FOOD RE VIEW
