Relationship between Plant Productions and Pig Production in Europe: Role of Public Policies

This paper analyzes the intensifying geographic and structural concentration of pig farming across the European Union and evaluates the influence of public policies on the association between pig herds and farmland. Driven by efficiency gains, economies of scale, and agglomeration advantages, pig production has become increasingly specialized and industrialized, undermining the traditional link between livestock and crop systems despite recognized environmental benefits. While policy instruments promoting regional decentralization have proven effective in other livestock sectors, they remain unused in EU pig production due to unclear objectives and insufficient political commitment. The authors synthesize existing research and present targeted data analyses to assess these dynamics.