“Save Our Bacon” Campaign Sounds Alarm over Potential Bacon Shortage

Sep 25, 2012

National Pig Association (NPA) Predicts Pork and Bacon Shortage

The National Pig Association (NPA) has come out with a new prediction, saying that consumers should expect a worldwide shortage of bacon and pork products come 2014. The NPA is a British farm trade organization that represents the interests of pig producers in the United Kingdom.

The association says that Europe’s pork products supply, namely bacon, will face what they are calling an unavoidable situation which is largely driven by recent financial hardships faced by the industry. Being plagued with drought and rising feed prices has forced hog producers to shrink their herds or simply get out of the business.

The NPA has launched a nationwide campaign for what they are calling “Save Our Bacon” with the goal of making consumers aware of the dire situation and to encourage them to buy British bacon products. The trade group is calling on supermarkets to pay pig farmers a fair price for pork to help them cover the drought-related losses. The campaign has gained momentum, especially among some British MP’s who signed a pledge of support for the campaign. More information about the campaign can be found at http://www.npa-uk.org.uk/index.html

Video: Finding a Balance of Innovation and Regulation - Dr. Peter Facchini

Regulations help markets and industry exist on level playing fields, keeping consumers safe and innovation from going too far. However, incredibly strict regulations can stunt innovation and cause entire industries to wither away. Dr. Peter James Facchini brings his perspective on how existing regulations have slowed the advancement of medical developments within Canada. Given the international concern of opium poppy’s illicit potential, Health Canada must abide by this global policy. But with modern technology pushing the development of many pharmaceuticals to being grown via fermentation, is it time to reconsider the rules?

Dr. Peter James Facchini leads research into the metabolic biochemistry in opium poppy at the University of Calgary. For more than 30 years, his work has contributed to the increased availability of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthetic genes to assist in the creation of morphine for pharmaceutical use. Dr. Facchini completed his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the University of Toronto before completing Postdoctoral Fellowships in Biochemistry at the University of Kentucky in 1992 & Université de Montréal in 1995.