PGI mallorca sausage in Spain

Abstract

The Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) Sobrasada de Mallorca de Porc Negre (Sobrasada of Mallorca of Porc Negre or simply Sobrasada of Porc Negre) is made of more noble cuts of Porc Negre pigs from Mallorca, bred in freedom and fed in a completely natural way. The survival of this autochthonous pig breed means that consumers today taste sobrasada made with the same raw materials that our ancestors used centuries ago; which is a unique example of gastronomic archeology. Sobrasada production in fact ensures the survival of the Porc Negre breed as well as income for supply chain members. This chapter offers novel insights on the sustainability of the PGI Sobrasada of Mallorca of Porc Negre, and makes comparison with PGI Sobrasada of Mallorca as a reference product using economic, social and environmental indicators. In terms of economic sustainability, both products show weak profitability and farmers tend to run Porc Negre farms as a supplementary activity; the main aim of farming Porc Negre pigs is to maintain the breed rather than make higher profits. As for environmental sustainability, the carbon footprint of the PGI Sobrasada of Porc Negre is higher than its reference product, mainly due to the characteristics of the black pig breed. The green and grey water footprints are smaller for the Porc Negre product than those of the reference product, but the blue water footprint is fairly similar. Finally, results for social indicators are heterogeneous.