Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 12/6/16


Smithfield Foods plans to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases generated throughout its pork supply chain by 25 percent over the next eight years, the company announced in a news release.

Smithfield – acquired by WH Group Ltd. of China in 2013 – said it worked with the Environmental Defense Fund to set the goal of lowering emissions by more than 400 metric tons by 2025, starting next year. The company added that the figure is equivalent to removing 900,000 cars from the road in terms of contributing to the gases released into the atmosphere.

The measures the Smithfield, Va.-based pork producer intends to take include improving fertilizer efficiency and soil health, lowering nitrous oxide emissions at grain farms, establishing renewable energy initiatives at its hog farms and installing anaerobic digesters and lagoon covers on at least 30 percent of its company-owned hog farms.

Smithfield said the commitment marks the first time a major protein company has pledged such a far-reaching program to reduce greenhouse gases throughout its supply chain.

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