Shane McAuliffe was invited to speak at the 12th International Conference on CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance, hosted by the Kemmy Business School at the University of Limerick.
Shane presented the 4 P’s Framework for Sustainable Pigmeat Production, developed around four interconnected pillars: Pigs, Planet, Profit and People.
The framework takes a whole farm approach to sustainability, recognising that the future of pig production depends on balancing animal health and welfare, environmental responsibility, economic viability and the people and communities connected with food production and its social licence.
Drawing on practical experience from our farms, Shane discussed how improvements in areas such as animal health and welfare, resource efficiency, environmental management, technology, staff development, education and public engagement can contribute collectively to more sustainable pigmeat production.
The presentation also highlighted the importance of considering the interactions and potential trade-offs between the four pillars rather than viewing individual sustainability measures in isolation.
Speaking following the conference, Shane said:
“It was a great opportunity to bring a practical farming perspective to an international discussion on sustainability. Our 4 P’s framework recognises that sustainable pig production must work for the pig, the planet, the economic viability of the farm and the people connected with our food system. None of those can be considered in isolation.”
The invitation provided an opportunity to share the experiences of an Irish family pig farming business with an international audience and to contribute to the wider discussion around how sustainability principles can be translated into practical actions at farm level.
