Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
By Abby Cavenaugh
Duplin Journal
You may not know the name Christina Phillips, Ph.D., but the Wallace native is one of the driving forces behind Smithfield, the powerhouse corporation that helped put Duplin County on the pork industry map. She also spent the past year as president of the North Carolina Pork Council, a statewide advocacy group, and now serves as past president. March is Women’s History Month, as well as National Agriculture Month, so it’s the perfect time to get to know one of the leading ladies in our area’s agriculture community.
Can you give us a brief overview of your background info?
I grew up in Wallace, and graduated high school from Wallace-Rose Hill. I attended North Carolina State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science (funded by scholarships from Murphy Family Farms, Duplin County Farm Bureau and North Carolina Farm Bureau), followed by a master’s degree in Swine Nutrition. I then went on to complete a Ph.D. in Swine Management and Welfare from the University of Minnesota. Following graduation, I was hired by Smithfield, where I am the Director of Production Research. I have been employed by Smithfield for 13 years.
I met my husband, Casey, while we were both students at N.C. State University. This month we will celebrate our 17th wedding anniversary. We live in Wallace with our two sons, Will (age 11) and Walt (age 9) and our energetic and mischievous German short haired pointer, Goose!
What made you want to work with Smithfield Foods?
In high school, I was actively involved in the Future Farmers of America (FFA) Organization and with the guidance of my agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, Mr. Mark Stampe, I served as president of my high school chapter and was a regional officer my senior year. This involvement in FFA led me to seek out summer internships in the agriculture field. During the summers while attending high school and college I interned for Murphy Family Farms (which was purchased by Smithfield in 2000). I worked on a sow farm one summer, and another summer I worked with the quality assurance and research teams. These experiences helped to create my love for working with pigs and for researching ways to improve and get better. I’m ecstatic to be back working at the place where it all began for me.
How would you explain your job with Smithfield?
My job is to research ways to improve efficiency and performance of pigs. I manage a research program to scientifically evaluate opportunities in multiple disciplines (nutrition, health, management, meat quality) across all phases of production (sow, nursery, finishing, and wean-to-finish). I am responsible for the design and execution of research protocols to answer important questions to improve business outcomes.
Smithfield has research farms that have specialized equipment to collect research data: scales to weigh pigs and feed systems to weigh feed. In addition, because we are a vertically integrated company, we want to make sure that any changes made to the pig’s feed for example, will not have a negative impact on the consumer’s perception of that product. So, we also collect data at the packing plant to measure meat quality.
One example of a project conducted in this area was to determine what amount of upcycled bakery product could be included in the pig’s diet for optimal performance. Because NC is a corn deficient state, and corn is the main source of energy used in pig diets, we import corn from other states to be able to feed our pigs. Therefore, we have to be innovative on how to remain profitable and sustainable — using upcycled bakery products in pig diets is an example of that! We can use a portion of upcycled bakery products to replace corn in the diet, lowering the cost of feed. This is a win, win — for Smithfield and the environment by reducing waste.
What’s one thing you wish more people understood about the pork industry?
Agriculture is North Carolina’s number one industry, employing about one-fifth of the state’s workforce. Pig farming is a big part of that! What I want consumers to know about pork is that it is a safe, nutritious protein raised by farmers who care about animal welfare, the environment, public health and our communities. Food labels can be confusing, and because of that can be potentially misleading. What you should know is that: 1) no added hormones are used in pork production, and 2) every piece of pork you eat is antibiotic free. Can pork producers use antibiotics to treat, control, and prevent disease in pigs? YES! However, we follow instructions on the use of those products to make sure enough time has passed for that product to leave the pig’s body for it enters the food chain.
Can you briefly explain what the N.C. Pork Council does?
The North Carolina Pork Council provides leadership for the state’s pork industry through public policy and advocacy efforts, as well as consumer information programs and services. For example, the NCPC conducted public opinion polls over the last couple of years and found that the vast majority of people in Eastern North Carolina have a positive view of the pork industry and appreciate our contributions to the local economy. We then take this information and share it with our legislators in Raleigh and Washington, D.C.
On a more personal note, what do you do in your spare time?
In my spare time I enjoy fishing, spending time on the beach, attending NCSU sporting events, and traveling with my family.
What’s the last book you read?
The Wizard and the Prophet by Charles C. Mann.
What’s your favorite eatery in Duplin County?
I don’t have a favorite restaurant per se. I do have favorite dishes at many local restaurants: Carnitas Verde at Camino Real, BLT at Mik’s, and no one can come close to preparing a better pork chop at 145 F than the Mad Boar; just to name a few. Obviously, there is a common theme here!
What, in your opinion, is the best thing about Duplin County?
The best thing about Duplin County is the people and rural environment. Duplin County is the number one pig producing county in the U.S. Being a short drive to the beach doesn’t hurt either!
