Yucatan Pig Farms: A Growing Environmental Crisis

Pig farming has long been a vital part of Mexico's economy, with a growing demand for pork as a food source. However, the significant increase in industrial pig farming in the Yucatan Peninsula over the past two decades has led to serious environmental concerns. The large-scale pig farms are contributing to high levels of pollution, including water and soil contamination, as well as unpleasant odors that are impacting local communities.

Greenpeace has reported that these large pig farms are responsible for 15% of the country's greenhouse gas emissions. The National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change attributes most of these emissions to cattle and pig herds. The major sources of these emissions are food production and manure management, as pigs do not fully absorb the nutrients they consume, resulting in highly polluting waste.

Residents of the Yucatan Peninsula have voiced their concerns about the impact of these pig farms. In the community of Sitilpech, locals noticed a strong odor of excrement when a farm was established in 2017. Over time, they observed that trees stopped bearing fruit and their leaves developed black spots. Sitilpech is located near the Ring of Cenotes, a large network of lakes and underground rivers. The pig farm in question is less than a kilometer from the first house in the town and is one of hundreds that have sprung up in the Yucatan Peninsula in recent years.

The proliferation of large pig farms has been described as a human and ecological disaster by those living nearby. In some Mayan villages in Yucatan, the pig population far exceeds the human population. During the rainy season, pig waste is pumped through irrigation systems, filtering into the porous limestone watershed connected to the Ring of Cenotes. Locals report health issues from drinking tap water, and there are concerns about the impact on the area's biodiversity. In response to the growing pollution, residents of Sitilpech staged protests against the pig farms in 2023.

The pollution from these farms is causing serious and potentially irreversible damage to both human health and the environment. This includes water contamination, harmful air pollution, and the spread of dangerous pathogens. A study conducted last year by Mexico's Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources found evidence of water contamination in areas surrounding the farms.