The pig sector of Lleida, in the last decades, has gone from being eminently familiar to form a business fabric, based in small, medium and big companies, distributed in the territory. These companies compete in one of the leading agri-food sectors worldwide. Pork production ranks first among the different species of draft animals (birds, pigs, ruminants) representing 36% of the total meat production in the world (FAOSTAT 2014).
Given the trends of this market and its foreseeable evolution, the competitive advantages in production must be based on the maximum efficiency of the processes, the optimal use of the inputs (water, energy, nutrients, etc.), the environmental sustainability. , and quality, which must be complemented by a guarantee stamp by the consumer, proving that these conditions are met.
The operations of the PECT are aimed at strengthening these key factors of competitiveness and at promoting the systematic use and application of cross-cutting enabling technologies, especially ICT and advanced production methods.
The collaboration between the companies of the territory, industries and agricultural exploitations, the University of Lleida, the IRTA and the Center of Porcine Studies of Torrelameu, for the achievement of these aims, consolidates Catalonia like European pole of knowledge in a a highly specialized field while contributing to the improvement of the Catalan innovation environment, and in a special way, eco-innovation.