Swine production based on autochthonous breeds plays an important role on Mediterranean agriculture, supplying raw material to be transformed into quality products addressed to particular specialized markets. This production system is based on a triangle whose three main points are : economic dimension, ecological dimension and social dimension.

Ten years ago, a few researchers and technicians met in Ajaccio, Corse, in the First International Colloquy to discuss the main concerns about the Mediterranean Pig, its genetic conservation and rational exploitation, and the valorization of the derived high quality transformed products. Since then, three other International Symposia (Badajoz, Spain, 1992 ; Benevento, Italy, 1995 and this one, in Evora, Portugal) evidenced an increasing scientific knowledge about the native Mediterranean pig breeds : herd health, breeding and genetic conservation, nutritional needs and natural feed resources utilization, management practices, technology and quality of the meat and of the typical transformed products.

Papers presented in 4^th Symposium emphasize different production systems, their sustainability, their important contribute to development of developing areas by utilizing natural and local resources to produce ecological high grade food.