DES MOINES, Iowa – The National Pork Board, US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) and the US Dept. of Agriculture are soliciting proposals from contractors to lead a consumer study examining trends and attitudes in current and potential markets for US pork exports. The 20-year foresight analysis of pork and processed pork consumption is known as Pork 2040. According to a statement, selection of the firm is based on “demonstrated competencies and desired qualifications to perform the services related to the area of the project focused on a critical export market for US pork exports: China.”

“By forecasting where pork and pork product demand is heading in China, the Pork Checkoff and its partners can return value to US pig farmers through a defined and united focus on growing export demand,” said Craig Morris, vice president of international marketing for the Pork Checkoff.

Proposals are being accepted from contractors until Dec. 21, 2018.

“Previous international marketing studies centered only on quantitative statistics to define demand, production and market access,” says Bill Luckey, chairman of the National Pork Checkoff’s International Marketing Committee and a pork producer from Columbus, Nebraska. “This unique effort will be more comprehensive, investigating the relevant qualitative factors that shape consumer opinion and hence markets. The study will focus on forecasting the pork and pork-product demand landscape over the next several decades to help determine where best to invest our limited Checkoff resources.”

Interested contractors interested in submitting proposals for the market should visit this link.