Summary: Dr. Miguel Ángel Higuera, Director of the Spanish Pig Farmers Association (ANPROGAPOR), shares his insight on the evolving challenges in European pork production – from disease and regulation to technology and farmer wellbeing. As PRRS continues to strain productivity and morale, Higuera highlights the potential of genetic innovation, including the gene editing of PRRS resistant pigs, to strengthen herd health1, animal welfare1, and reduce environmental impact2. He also calls for a clearer regulatory path in Europe to ensure farmers can benefit from safe, science-based progress.
Dr. Miguel Ángel Higuera has spent his career at the intersection of veterinary science, farm management, and agricultural policy. A veterinarian by training, he began his career in reproductive and artificial insemination before joining the production company Procherga. Since 2012, he has served as the director of ANPROGAPOR, representing the interest of Spanish pig producers.
“My work changes every day,” he explains. “Some days I have meetings with the Ministry of Agriculture to discuss investment plans for the pig sector, and later that same day, I may be in a small village meeting with farmers. It’s very important for me to be directly in touch with members. Even though I’m based in Madrid, there are no farmers here, so I travel a lot to meet them face-to-face. That’s how I learn what’s happening and find solutions for them.”
With this dual perspective, grounded both in policy and daily farm operations, Dr. Higuera understands better than most the realities and pressures facing Spanish pig farmers today. Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) continues to be one of the most significant challenges facing global pig production3. Within the European Union, the disease is estimated to cost producers approximately €1.5 billion annually4. Beyond its effects on herd health and productivity, it impacts animal welfare1, farm sustainability2 and the emotional wellbeing of those caring for pigs.
“It’s an incredible challenge,” says Dr. Higuera. “PRRS is a headache…Farmers follow all the biosecurity rules, do everything right and still face outbreaks. When you have an outbreak of a high-pathogenic strain of PRRS, the suffering can last months. It’s emotionally very hard.”
Dr. Higuera explained that despite the strong integration of Spain’s pork production system, the disease continues to disrupt herd planning and market forecasting. The result is a gap between consumer demand and what the industry can actually produce.
“In 2018, this gap was about 5-6 million pigs. And right now, this gap is between 14-15 million,” said Dr. Higuera. He goes on to say, “To compensate for the necessities of our industry, Spain must purchase animals from other countries, but when you move animals, you move disease.”
The disease’s ripple effects are clear, from biosecurity costs to labor strain3 and environmental inefficiency, eliminating PRRS is one of the most urgent matters in the pork industry.
Higuera shared that reducing the impact of PRRS through innovation, such as the PRRS-resistant pig, could strengthen the entire supply chain and relieve pressure on producers by reducing the incidence of PRRS on pig farms.
For Dr. Higuera, controlling or avoiding PRRS would be – in a word – “fantastic.”
“But the most important is the emotional aspect” he added “We could have happier farmers without the disease. Right now, when you arrive to your farm you are scared. Scared that you don’t know what you are going to find inside of the farm.”
For Dr. Higuera, the benefit of eliminating gene editing like was done to create PRRS-resistant pigs extends far beyond economics to animal welfare, morale, and the future viability of farming communities. He also sees a clear link between healthier pigs and reducing environmental strain.
While the PRRS-resistant pig is a landmark innovation, Dr. Higuera views gene editing as a broader opportunity for animal agriculture. The same technology, he believes, could be used responsibly to address other diseases, enhance animal welfare, and improve sustainability.
“The technology is in our hands,” he said. “We have to present, convince and also inform our politicians about different developments that we need and the solutions they can bring us.”
Dr. Higuera emphasized that science and ethics must move together. He believes that with proper evaluation and transparency, gene-editing will become a powerful complement to biosecurity and animal welfare.
Despite its promise, gene-editing currently faces regulatory hurdles in Europe. Dr. Higuera notes that while other regions have already begun adopting gene-edited animals for production, European farmers remain constrained by what he describes as strict regulations and outdated misconceptions.
“In Europe, sometimes our politicians don’t understand how the technology has advanced and how helpful it can be for us.” Dr. Higuera said. “Many do not understand that gene editing is not GMO, the PRRS-resistant pig is not GMO.”
For Dr. Higuera, transparency and understanding must guide Europe’s path forward. He believes open communication will help bridge the gap between science and policy. With clearer dialogue and science-based leadership, he’s confident that innovation can move to the farm, ensuring Europe remains competitive while protecting its values of safety, welfare, and sustainability.
The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this article are those of Dr. Miguel Angel Higuera and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies or positions of PIC.
Learn more about how gene editing was used to breed PRRS-resistant pigs.
Sources:
- Machado I, Petznick T, Poeta Silva APS, et al. Assessment of changes in antibiotic use in grow-finish pigs after the introduction of PRRSV in a naïve farrow-to-finish system. Prev Vet Med. 2024;233:106350. doi:10.1016/J.PREVETMED.2024.106350
- Life Cycle Assessment if forthcoming.
- Osemeke O, Silva GS, Corzo CA, et al. Economic impact of productivity losses attributable to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in United States pork production, 2016–2020. Prev Vet Med. 2025;244:106627. doi:10.1016/J.PREVETMED.2025.106627
- PRRS Area Regional Control Programme | EU CAP Network. Accessed November 23, 2025. https://eu-cap-network.ec.europa.eu/projects/prrs-area-regional-control-programme_en