The environmental footprint of Canada’s egg production supply chain has been cut by almost 50% during the last 50 years according to a study published by Egg Farmers of Canada (EFC).
The study, covering the period from 1962 to 2012, examined the Canadian egg supply chain environmental footprint, finding that the “cradle-to-farmgate” impacts for eggs produced in conventional housing systems were, on average, one-third of the estimated impacts of the industry in 1962.
“Canadian egg farmers are constantly looking for new ways of making egg production more efficient and environmentally sound,” said EFC chief executive, Tim Lambert, noting that the sector’s reduction in overall environmental impact had been achieved while egg production in Canada had increased by more than 50%.
“EFC will continue to work with stakeholders across the entire value chain to ensure we remain on this path, to continue to move towards an increasingly sustainable future.”
According to the report’s findings, increased environmental sustainability within the egg industry can be attributed to several factors, including making changes to:
- feed composition,
- fertilisers,
- improved animal health, and
- higher productivity in pullet and egg production.
