The 2023 Hog Day was held in the Western Cape from 18 to 20 October and it was another remarkable gathering of driven managers and employees, industry experts, and service providers, all motivated by a common goal: Going from ‘good to great’. This event once again offered a comprehensive view of the challenges and opportunities facing the pig industry today, with the aim of fostering innovation and sustainability.
Through engaging presentations and interactive sessions, attendees gained insights into emerging trends, challenges, and solutions shaping the future of pig farming. The day served as catalyst for personal as well as industry growth, encouraging participants to explore new ideas, and contribute to the overall knowledge shared to improve production and personal success from ‘good to great’.
Christian Zimelka, head of consumer assurance at SAPPO, was invited by PIC to deliver a presentation on the day. Reflecting on the past year’s experiences, Christian remarked, “One of the pivotal changes in the marketing of pork in South Africa for me has been the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) into various marketing processes.” His talk was structured in two segments: The first recounted his personal journey and some intriguing observations he shared with the audience, while the second part delved into the myriad of lessons he has learned along the way and how they can be applied to bolster the pork category in South Africa. The crux of these lessons was about harnessing diverse applications and plugins to meet various needs.
“For research, there are tools available to aid you; for processing information, tools are at your disposal; and when it comes to creativity, a plethora of tools are ready to assist,” he explained. “The challenge lies in harnessing the outputs of these tools, intertwining them to achieve optimal results. While AI doesn’t guarantee 100% accuracy all of the time and there’s no singular solution right now, human judgment remains essential in making the ultimate decisions.”
“A heartfelt thank you to PIC for their sponsorship and for inspiring me to speak on this innovative subject.”
Christian Zimelka, head of consumer assurance at SAPPO
The South African Pork Producers’ Organisation (SAPPO) coordinates industry interventions and collaboratively manages risks in the value chain to enable the sustainability and profitability of pork producers in South Africa.
