The future of the pig industry after the introduction of african swine fever into Asia

Abstract

Rapid outbreaks and the spread of African swine fever across China and other countries have resulted in the huge loss of pig populations and sustainability of the global food supply chain. • Because the most vulnerable and affected segment will be the small holders of the pig population, transformation of the pig industry to medium- and large-scale farms, together with better standardized production systems and biosecurity, will facilitate future survival of the industry and can contribute substantially to food security. • During the pork shortage, a looming food crisis changed protein consumption behavior from meat to alternative protein sources. • The ASF outbreaks in Asia might render the virus deleterious to the global pig industry associated with globalization. Travelers and international trading are the major carriers of a human-driven disease such as the ASF virus.