CAES Partners on Project to Build Trust between Pork Producers, Consumers

Derrick Coble, Ph.D. is an assistant professor and swine specialist in the Department of Animal Sciences.

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University will partner with the National Pork Board on its new five-year effort to address consumer questions related to the pork industry and strengthen consumers’ confidence in choosing pork for their plate.

The Real Pork Trust Consortium brings together the diverse expertise of five universities and will focus on three key areas to build consumer trust: 1) research, designed to answer consumer questions about pork and pork production; 2) communications, to share the research findings in a relatable, relevant way consumers can easily understand and use when making decisions; and 3) training to empower people from various walks of life to share research-based information about the pork industry.

The group will operate under the pork board’s We Care® Ethical Principles, a commitment to animal wellbeing, natural resources management, food safety and public health.

“The producer leaders of the National Pork Board recognize the need to engage with consumers to make sure we understand their questions, and they understand more about our commitment to people, pigs and the planet,” said Bob Ruth, a producer from Pennsylvania and 2023-24 president of National Pork Board. “We also know we can’t do that alone. This unique partnership, with exceptional talent from multiple land grant universities, is an innovative approach for our industry, and we’re excited to support the effort through consortium’s advisory council as they identify the most impactful ways to build trust in modern pork production.”

Derrick Coble, Ph.D., swine specialist and assistant professor in the Department of Animal Science at N.C. A&T, will help train producers and future swine professionals to effectively communicate research related to pork production and pork products.

“Through our graduate programs, N.C. A&T, the nation’s largest HBCU (Historically Black College and University) and the top producer of African American graduates in agriculture, is training a diverse group of swine scientists, experts, and professionals on behalf of the swine industry,” Coble said.

“We are eager to work with our partner institutions and industry partners to ensure that industry-related research is effectively communicated to the public. The wealth of expertise in the Real Pork Trust Consortium allows for transdisciplinary research, training, and communication that will improve the sustainability of pork production, while ensuring the food safety and nutritional standards of pork products.”

The Real Pork Trust Consortium includes Iowa State University, the University of Georgia, North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, and the University of Minnesota.

Experts from the five universities will work together in science communication, animal science, animal welfare, veterinary medicine, meat sciences and product safety, nutrition, agricultural economics, sustainability, sociology and agricultural education.

“Consumers want answers to their questions about the food they eat – and we have good, science-backed answers to share,” said University of Georgia Professor Alexa Lamm. “At the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, we are excited to partner with an industry that wants to work with scientists to find the answers and use the best methods to communicate transparently about the research behind pork production. We want everyone to have the information they need to make educated choices about the food they eat.”

The consortium is currently in the planning phase and will share more information about its approach and planned work in the fall. To stay up-to-date on its work and other initiatives from the Pork Checkoff, visit porkcheckoff.org and sign up if the weekly email.