We Care: How Partnerships and Data Drive Progress in Pork Sustainability

For the U.S. pig farmer, sustainability is a way of life rooted in generations of a shared value to do what’s right for pigs, people and the planet. Farmers also recognize their on-farm practices are one part of a larger effort to get pork on the plate and are committed to demonstrating progress on the farm that helps processors, packers, retailers and food service share a farm-to-fork story of stewardship.

As part of that commitment, the industry recently released the 2025 We Care® Sustainability Report, which documents progress to date and sets milestones for future improvement. The foundation for demonstrating goal progress is the Pork Cares Farm Impact Reports, which benchmark farm-level data, offering farmers the opportunity to assess their individual operations, validate decisions or identify opportunities for improvement. When aggregated, the data narrates progress over time at the state and national levels, which is critical for the industry and the supply chain to better understand progress to date.

The sustainability report showcases progress, highlights milestones and represents the everyday efforts of pig farmers making a big difference and, as a result, contributing to the sustainability story of the comprehensive food industry.

The pork industry’s data collection and reporting are grounded in the We Care® Ethical Principles, which were established by pig farmers in 2008 to articulate the industry’s shared values and establish benchmarks to track progress on the following areas: animal well-being, food safety, people, public health, communities and the environment. The principles represent shared values across the industry and help identify milestones to track progress.

Animal Well-Being: Providing the highest level of care for pigs.

Animal well-being has always been a top priority for producers. Participation and the continued evolution of animal care training and certification programs demonstrate this commitment. According to the 2025 sustainability report,  96% of the pigs are cared for by employees who have received training like Pork Quality Assurance® Plus (PQA Plus®), 95% of pigs produced annually come from locations that participate in PQA Plus® Site Assessments and 74% of pigs are handled and transported by individuals who are certified in Transport Quality Assurance® (TQA®) programs.¹

The PQA Plus program is compliant with ISO Technical Specification (TS) 34700 – a sign of its quality and robust nature, said Stephanie Wetter, director of animal welfare for NPB.

“The ISO compliance adds credibility to the good work of PQA Plus, which gives producers and the supply chain confidence that our practices meet globally recognized standards,” she said.

People: Providing meaningful, dignified work for the people dedicated to raising the food we eat. 

Employees, customers and partners are at the heart of the nation’s pork industry. Producers recognize the importance of equipping and enriching their people with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in their jobs with confidence and security. In addition to PQA® and TQA® programs, 31% of employees work at farms that offer additional opportunities for training and leadership.²

Food Safety: Committed to producing the safest food in the world. 

Producers support transparency and traceability when it comes to building consumer trust. Today, all fresh pork produced annually can be traced from retail or foodservice locations back to the packing plant or farm. A variety of technologies and techniques are in place to ensure pork is safe³ when it hits the consumer's table.

Public Health: Responsibly protecting human and animal health. 

Pork producers have adopted a One Health approach on the farm, recognizing that human, animal and environmental health are deeply connected. Supporting public health means providing consumers around the world with nutritious, high-quality protein raised ethically and sustainably. This commitment relies heavily on veterinarian oversight, strict protocols and proper documentation. 

Communities: Growing and supporting strong communities for today and tomorrow.

Pork producers promote sustainability by investing in their communities, driving prosperity and helping them thrive. In 2022, they offered 987 jobs, awarded nine academic scholarships, donated $845,965 to charities and volunteered 18,355 hours.²

Environment: Safeguarding and nurturing natural resources for now and future generations.

Pork producers understand that their livelihoods are directly tied to the environment– land, water and air– and have diligently protected and preserved our planet’s natural resources. They’re committed to land stewardship with sustainable practices that extend beyond the barn. In the past six decades, sustainability in pork production has improved by using 75% less land, 25% less water, 8% less carbon emissions and 7% less energy.⁴

“The FAO’s 2023 “Pathways to Lower Emissions’ Report identifies efficient agricultural production as the most promising opportunity to reduce livestock emissions.5 The data collected through the Pork Cares Farm Impact Reports help us demonstrate the progress we’ve already made and identify opportunities to find more efficiencies moving forward,” said Jamie Burr, National Pork Board chief sustainability officer.  

The industry’s aspiring goals require collaboration at every level– pork producers are committed to partnering across industries and throughout the supply chain to strengthen demand for pork, elevate pork’s reputation, gain public trust and strive for a more sustainable future. Partnerships are critical for progress– take part in the mission to create a bright, sustainable future for pork.

Learn more about how the We Care® principles can support your sustainability efforts.

This content is brought to you by the Pork Checkoff.  

Sources: