Pig in the Middle: Environment, Health and Development Dimensions of the Pork Sector in China

This article introduces this special issue, which draws on research by an interdisciplinary team of environmental, health and social scientists to examine the ways in which pig farming in China impacts the environment, human health and rural livelihoods. It traces the evolution of pig farming in China, from early times when pigs were a crucial part of the household-based, integrated agricultural economy, through the waves of changing policies towards livestock rearing in the Mao era, to the encouragement of household pig farming as a means of rural development after reform and opening up. It then discusses concerns about the environmental and health impacts of pig farming and the policies that have been introduced to address them in recent years. Throughout, the analysis emphasizes the ways in which regional variation in environmental conditions and economic structure creates different local challenges and needs for targeted policy approaches that balance environmental and livelihood concerns.