Communist Pigs book cover (IMAGE) University of Rochester Caption The pig played a fundamental role in the GDR's attempts to create a modern industrial food system, albeit one based on communist principles of large-scale collective farming. But the small nation paid a high price for its pig prowess: from manure pollution to animal disease and rolling food shortages--the reliance on industrial pork, much of which was directly destined for export, foreshadowed the country's ultimate environmental and political collapse in 1989. Credit University of Washington Press Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.