PIG Elections 2027: Are you ready to step up and represent your industry?

Nominations to stand for election for the NPA’s Pig Industry Group (PIG) open in November.

This represents a unique opportunity to help shape industry policy at this critical time. PIG is the NPA’s representative decision-making body, bringing together independent pig producers, allied industry representatives and the corporate sector in a cohesive body that incorporates a vast array of knowledge and experience.

It works with the NPA team to formulate, tweak and approve policy, meeting four times a year, twice in person and twice online. Members are also expected to advise on key policy areas at other times.

For anyone thinking of standing, the experience of those who have sat on PIG over the years is that, as well as doing your bit for the industry, there are also great personal benefits from being part of this group.

What’s new?

NPA members will be voting to elect a total of 14 members to sit on its Pig Industry Group (PIG) when voting opens in January.

These will be made up of eight producers, four allied industry representatives and, in a change to previous years, two places are guaranteed for representatives from the corporate sector.

In another important change, NPA members from the different membership categories will get to vote across all three categories, rather than just for candidates from their own category.

• Producer members will be offered 8 x producer votes 4 x allied votes, 2 x corporate votes (14 votes in total).

• Both allied and corporate members will be offered 4 x producer votes, 4 x allied votes, 2 x corporate votes (10 votes in total).
• Members are not required to cast all their available votes in each category.
•  It will be mandatory for a member to cast at least one vote per category.
• More details will be issued before voting opens.
• There is still one vote per membership
• All  nominations and votes will need to be done online – make sure you have registered for access to the members area of the NPA website.

Election Timetable

• Nominations open online – November 26
• Nominations close – January 11, 2027
• Online voting opens – January 18
• Voting closes – February 22
• Winners announced – late February/early March.

‘Have your say’

Joe Dewhirst, joint managing director of Yorkwold Pigpro, was elected in 2021 and has chaired the group for the past three years.

“Being part of the NPA PIG gives you a real opportunity to have a say in the future of our industry,” he said.

“It’s a chance to share experiences, hear different perspectives and gain a better understanding of the wider challenges and opportunities facing pig producers.

“I’ve also found it valuable getting to know others across the sector. I would encourage anyone with an interest in the future of British pig production to put themselves forward.

The merging of the NPA’s producer and allied industry groups to form the PIG in 2021 has been a great success. For the past three years, Michelle Sprent, of pig nutrition business, Thompsons of York, has been vice-chair of PIG.

“Over my time of being on the PIG and the Allied Industry Group (AIG) before that, it has been great to be able to give something back,” said Michelle, who was elected onto AIG in 2018.

“Additionally, from a personal perspective it helps me keep abreast of the wider challenges the sector is facing that are not directly feed related.”