The adoption of intensive pig farming systems brought economies of scale, greater productivity and logistic gains, but it increased the incidence of infections and animal stress levels, resulting in bouts of infectious diseases and making the use of antimicrobials in subtherapeutic or preventive doses necessary to promote growth and to mitigate the occurrence of diseases.

However, the rise of viral infections in recent years, the increase in bacteria that are resistant to antimicrobials and the potential implications for human health have raised questions about this practice in Brazil and in the world.

With the aim of minimizing the adverse effects of the collective use of antimicrobials on human and animal health and on the environment, and comply with regulation for the supply of safe foods, Embrapa Swine and Poultry developed the Family-Based Pig Production System. It is aimes at small and mid-sized farms, agroindustries and cooperatives that intend to work in market niches with the supply of safe meat without antimicrobials.

The project seeks alternatives for the supply of safe meats without antimicrobials in the pigs' diet and with animal welfare, based on an effort articulated with some links of the production chain and the technical assistance and rural extension (TARE) institutions. The main strategy is to disseminate the system through technology transfer and communication, and to train TARE technicians and farmers to implement it.

It is expected to contribute to increasing the supply of safe pork, with improvements in public health, competitiveness and income for family-based pig farming, aiming at market niches, animal welfare and environmental conservation.