In 1131, the kingdom of France came close to losing its footing because of a pig. In the middle of the city, this symbol of impurity dares, in broad daylight, to overturn the steed mounted by the king. Out for a simple walk, the young heir Philippe falls from his horse. He is distraught. The illustrious rider collides violently with the ground. He dies.
The king killed by a pig! Who believes it? How is it possible ? In a world that fears the fires of hell, where the imagination does not know how to set foot on the ground, this death seems to presage the darkest of destinies for the kingdom. How can we save the monarchy and its subjects from this terrible symbolic stain? The sky is called in for reinforcement so that the very high sun burns, in silence, this affront made here below to the throne.
Royal purple, the hitherto emblematic color of the monarchy, was subsequently abandoned. To restore the soiled crown, celestial blue is preferred. The white of the lily, symbol of the immaculate purity of the virgin, is also used. Thus azure and virginal white join hands to proclaim the purity of power, its sacred character, its legitimacy.
The Quebec flag, a white lily on an azure background flanked by a cross, is partly the distant heir of this story. In short, since the beginning of time, there has been pig which, from time to time, comes back to us.
Quebec is also the kingdom of the pig. For decades, pigsties have sprung up everywhere. Millions of pigs are mass-produced. Count almost the same number of pigs killed as citizens each year. Nearly 7 million pig heads have fallen in the past year.
In the agri-food sector, with more than 1,400 specialized farms, the pork industry is the second largest. Quebec is ranked fifth among pig producers in the world. Its exports are mainly to China, the United States and Japan. Is everything good in the pig?
In Saint-Alexandre-de-Kamouraska, a few days ago, a large truck overturned on a curve. This heavy goods vehicle was transporting around 150 pigs spread over three levels. In the accident, several dozen animals died. And some animals escaped through gaps. Screams rose before stunned eyes. In 2013, in almost the same place, another truck on its way to the slaughterhouse overturned.
For months, it actually seems that Quebec’s entire pork production is going into overdrive.
The big slaughterhouses have indicated that they will no longer buy pigs as before. In these places where life is confused with death, where flesh is a commodity, the sacrosanct market collapsed overnight. To the point where farmers were forced to support slaughterhouses so that their activities were not stopped overnight. This led them to produce at a loss. Over the coming months, producers will be forced to reduce their production by 9%. Some volunteer to stop altogether, for at least five years.
In fact, this could well mean that they will stop forever since it is not easy to restart agricultural operations when the rhythm of the days is broken. In other words, many agricultural buildings, sometimes almost new, suddenly find themselves abandoned, without much possibility of conversion.
There has been a lot of talk in recent months about the upcoming closure of an Olymel slaughterhouse, in Tring-Jonction (what a curious name), on the outskirts of Beauce. The largest pool of breeders is directly affected. What does this mean for the food supply of this half-country? Tens of thousands of animals raised in Beauce and the wider region will have to be transported to Mauricie, or to Rivière-du-Loup, or even to the suburbs of Montreal to be slaughtered. Are we likely to see more overturned trucks than before? In any case, the transport to which meat is increasingly subjected is staggering.
The pig’s kingdom finds itself undermined by combined factors. Labor shortage. Increased feed costs. Following the pandemic where many pigs found themselves stuck in traffic jams. Increased fuel costs. Closure of the Chinese market.
A scientific study by the Robert-Sauvé Research Institute, specializing in occupational health and safety, is devoted to pig producers. It draws attention to compromised health. A third of breeders are affected by the effects of high psychological distress. As in all agricultural professions, accidents are numerous. One in six breeders experiences the consequences of a painful work accident. One in two experiences back problems. To be a farmer today, you have to know how to raise serious questions, while having a bit of a pig’s face.
The dropout of farmers contributes, of course, to the devitalization of regions. In 1991, Quebec had more than 38,000 active farms. In 2021, there were only 29,000 left. Despite some small ups and downs in life, a general decline continues. The agricultural sector, with a view to achieving necessary food autonomy, finds itself in a curious situation.
Last year, apparently in the name of this food autonomy, the government granted a subsidy of 3 million to PepsiCo so that it could manufacture more chips in Lévis, saying it was ready to support other his projects. Should we be happy to eat chips from an American multinational while watching American hockey, also heavily subsidized? “All animals are equal,” Orwell wrote, “but some are more equal than others.” In front of the little Napoleons obsessed with the desire to reign, in the present time, there are always pigs running around to make our sovereignty lose its footing.