With a high turnout in Curicó and Chillán, the workshop “Odor Management in the Pig Industry: From Theory to Practice” was organized by ChileCarne and led by the consulting firm Proterm, which specializes in odor management. The event not only offered practical tools to address challenges in this area, but it also highlighted the sector’s commitment to adopting increasingly regulated and sustainable practices in line with environmental standards.
The workshop sought to support the implementation of the odor emission standard for the pig industry, the first of its kind in Chile. It establishes specific requirements for farms based on their size and proximity to inhabited areas, considering environmental and social factors in operations, as well as monitoring systems and mitigation technologies. Published in 2023, the implementation of the standard includes progressive requirements and is expected to be fully enforced in 2025, marking a regulatory milestone for the industry.
With two in-person sessions—on June 13 in Curicó and June 19 in Chillán—the workshop was attended by representatives from ChileCarne and other stakeholders in the Chilean pork production and exporting industry.
The goal was to provide practical tools and a thorough understanding of available methodologies for managing odor emissions and their impact on communities.
Daniela Álvarez, ChileCarne’s Sustainability Manager, explained that the workshop is part of the association’s strategy to support industry compliance with one of the world’s most stringent odor standards. “Training is crucial for implementing a standard that is likely one of the world’s most complex. At the International Odor Conference held in Colombia last April, we learned that although an odor standard for pig farms and other industries has been in place for over 10 years, it has not gained traction. There are no similar in any other Latin American country—not in Brazil, Mexico, or even the United States. Surprisingly, not even in Spain, which accounts for 4% of global pork production and is one of the largest pork producers in the European Union. The EU is a leader in this field; countries like the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, and Belgium have had regulations in place since 2008. Although Chile produces only 0.4% of the world’s pork, it ranks fifth in exports and is known for its quality and competitiveness. Maintaining this leadership requires technical intelligence, especially since there is currently no device—as there is for noise—that can tell you the level of nuisance experienced by a neighbor at a given time. Knowing that requires a series of methodologies to study and monitor the impact. This is not just a challenge in terms of technical costs, but also given the expectation of ‘zero odor,’ which is not feasible. This is not only because of how the standard works but also because of a lack of land-use planning.”
Miguel Gatica, Proterm’s Odor Engineering Manager, underscored the importance of training and clear policies to provide certainty to companies. “Land-use planning is the next critical step to improve management. It is encouraging to see the industry complying with regulations and a constructive dialogue with the authorities, which helps move towards the ultimate goal of improving people’s quality of life and planning in greater harmony with the environment,” he noted.
The workshop included a theoretical section focused on the domestic and international regulatory frameworks for odors, as well as analysis and sensory methodologies. Participants then were able to put that into practice at interactive stations focused on:
– Odor identification according to Chilean Standard No. 3386:2015.
– Flow measurement, olfactometric analysis, and equipment use.
– Implementation of surveys and citizen science tools.
These activities helped attendees familiarize themselves with key technologies for compliance, enhancing their capacities in environmental management and sustainability.
Rocío Alvial, Environment Deputy Manager at Coexca, believes that one of the biggest challenges is accurately interpreting the regulation and maintaining open communication with authorities to discuss the practical difficulties in its application. “We have invested many hours in training, technology, and collecting data on how odors behave,” she explained, noting that this is a relatively new standard with limited prior experience.
Francisco Merino, Head of Production at Maxagro’s Chillán Viejo, stated that “controlling odor emissions requires continuous efforts and investments to maintain systems that operate with the lowest possible emissions.” He also emphasized that “it is essential to ensure the sustainability of the production process and meet the increasing demands of both consumers and international markets.”
Advancing a More Effective Environmental Management Strategy
The workshops are part of ChileCarne’s efforts to support the implementation of odor management plans at pig farms as part of the ongoing improvement of the production process to reduce environmental impact and improve relationships with local communities.
ChileCarne praised the sector’s interest and engagement, highlighting that events like these are crucial for coordinating and sharing technical knowledge and innovative practices, enhancing the industry’s sustainability in line with national and international standards.
