People
Employees, customers and partners are the heart of the nation’s pork industry.
Caring for People
We are committed to providing meaningful, dignified work for the people who choose to dedicate their careers to raising the food we eat.
Goals
We are committed to ensuring all our caregivers have the knowledge and skills to thrive and provide quality care while being safe in their jobs.1
✓ Provide caregivers with access to professional growth and appropriate training opportunities by equipping them to demonstrate leadership at each stage of their career.1
✓ Support multi-factored diversity within our farms and the communities where we raise pigs.1
Targets
→ Percentage of pigs reported produced at a location where employees have received specific animal-care training.
→ Percentage of pigs reported produced at a location where animal well-being training is verified by caregiver competency.
→ Percentage of pigs reported produced at a location where employees were provided training and/or leadership opportunities in addition to PQA Plus.®
→ Percentage of pigs reported produced at a location where there is a formal, written Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policy for their business.
1. National Pork Board. NPB Announces Pork Industry Sustainability Goals and Targets. 17 Feb. 2022.
2. U.S. Pork Producers. We Care Dashboard. Built and maintained by We Write Code. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.
Measuring Our Progress
2022 Results
225 Farms
554 Hog Sites
96%
Pigs cared for by employees who are PQA Plus® certified2
31%
Employees who work at farms that offer additional training and leadership opportunities2
People + UN SDGs
Our commitment to people aligns with five of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals in ways that resonate with our values. We seek to exceed their benchmarks where possible and reimagine solutions where we believe they fall short or overreach.
- 4 – Quality Education
- 5 – Gender Equality
- 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth
- 10 – Reduced Inequalities
- 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
By setting and exceeding our own high standards, we aim to lead by example and foster meaningful change.
Advancing Pork Sustainability
The pork industry’s approach to sustainability is rooted in the We Care® principles and aligned sustainability goals. Grounded in a One Health approach, we seek to balance and optimize the health of pigs, people and the planet.
For pig farmers, sustainability isn’t a new idea—it’s a way of life. Explore our six key commitments and how we work to make pork a more sustainable protein.
