Speaking at the recent launch of the new company, which emerged from the divestment of the animal health sector from Pfizer, Mme Clusel said that with 7 billion people now demanding protein and the EU having 16 per cent of global meat consumption, the pig meat industry in the region was well placed to meet the growing demand.

At present, pig meat consumption in the EU is 41.6 kg per person a year and in meeting the challenges presented to the sector, pig producers are using fewer antibiotics and those that are used are being used more and more responsibly.

She said there has been a 47 per cent drop in the use of injectable anti-infectives since 2009 and a 23 per cent drop in the use of oral anti-infectives in the same period. At the same time there has been a 20 per cent increase in the use of vaccinations to prevent disease.

"Through prevention there has been an increase in the pig health level and with healthy pigs you get healthy meat," said Mme Clusel.

"We will still need anti-infectives, because there will still be disease on the farm, but we need to use them in the right way.

To hear more of Frederique Clusel's thoughts on the developing pig meat industry and the challenges it faces click through to her video interview here.