Global demand for poultry and eggs continues to grow, according to the latest FAO data. High-organic-value protein and affordable costs are the keys to success that nevertheless confronts us, once again, with the greatest challenge. Sustainability of production and consumption, ranked 12th among the Sustainable Development Goals (
Sustainable Development Goals
, SDGs), in UN Agenda 2030.
Poultry meat, global demand on the rise
From 1960 to the present, per capita consumption of poultry meat has increased 5 times, and that of eggs has doubled. And global demand for poultry meat, between 2000 and 2030, is expected to triple in South Asia (+271%), exceed a doubling in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (by 116%), and touch it in both the Middle East and North Africa (+97%) and East Asia and the Pacific (+91%).
The surge in demand should be attributed to population growth and urbanization-as already exposed in the UN report TWI2050 (
The World In 2050
), but also to the continued increase in individual consumption of these commodities. Regardless of the world region and income levels considered, albeit with a higher growth rate inLow-Middle Income Countries (LMICs).
Poultry meat and eggs already represent the top sources of animal protein on a planetary level, followed by pork. Indeed, the valuable nutritional values are combined with low production costs and the absence of religious or cultural constraints on their consumption (which affect, for pork, about 2 billion people).
Poultry supply chain and SDGs. Food security, food safety, sustainability
The poultry supply chain can undoubtedly contribute, for the reasons stated above, to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal No. 2. ‘END HUNGER, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture‘. Eliminating hunger and malnutrition, as noted above, is a crucial goal for modern society. At the global, European and Italian levels.
However, food security (i.e., food supply security) cannot be separated-as highlighted in SDG 2 itself and recalled in SDG 12 below-from sustainability in agriculture and animal husbandry. Neither is it from food safety, food security, as outlined in the latest report ‘
The Future of Food Safety
‘ by FAO, WHO, WTO and African Union. And reaffirmed by the UN at the first
World Food Safety Day
, on 7.6.19.
Sustainable poultry farming, the European example for FAO
Farming and production practices in poultry farming must come into alignment with sanitation, environmental and animal welfare standards that are actually capable of ensuring safe, ethical and sustainable food for the people of the planet. Following where possible the requirements set forth in the organic sector, which better than others guarantee, on this supply chain in particular, the best chance of achieving the said objectives.
‘Ensure responsible production and consumption’
(SDG 12).
The European Union can be the example to follow for the sustainable and effective development of the global agricultural supply chain. Thanks to a system of rules that-as the epidemiological data on foodborne illnesses show-is light years ahead of the animal husbandry ‘models’ applied in the U.S., Brazil and other major exporters of poultry products.
Therefore, the new FAO director-general Qu Dongyu may consider the European example and follow its ongoing update. Indeed, the resounding success of the European citizens’ initiative #EndTheCageEra will have to result in an evolution of the rules under the banner of animal welfare. And so of food safety, including veterinary drug residues (the use of which has already been the subject of recent reforms).
Intensive poultry farming, rules in EU
EU rules on intensive poultry farming banned battery farms in 2012. (1) Cages must meet minimum sizes and concentration limits of the animals crammed into them. However, available spaces remain tight, which is why European citizens have pursued the ‘End The Cage‘ initiative. Since it is still possible, for example, to keep 13 laying hens in each cage one meter square by 45 cm high. Spaces that do not even allow chickens to spread their wings. Those raised on the ground live a little better but not too much better either, in 9 in the 1 sq. m. cage (2)
Broilers are ‘raised on the ground’ but rather inside sheds that are often artificially lit and ventilated. With an even higher population density of 20 animals per square meter. (3) Industry rules in Europe have evolved earlier than elsewhere, overcoming to some extent resistance from industrial agriculture lobbies. And yet animal welfare is actually reserved in the poultry supply chain for organic production.
The overcrowding still tolerated in conventional production exposes chickens to increased risks of disease, as well as injury and cannibalism. And it involves increased use of veterinary drugs, the misuse of which is linked to, among other things, the phenomena of antibiotic resistance (AMR, Anti-Microbial Resistance) and multi-antibiotic resistance(MDR, Multiple Drug Resistance), which are already prevalent in some human-transmitted zoonoses such as some strains of Salmonella.
Organic livestock farming, EU rules
Organic farms follow criteria that today represent the best expression of animal welfare (albeit, with a view to the production of food of animal origin). The organic system is therefore also supported by
Compassion In World Farming
(CIWF), the international reference association foranimal welfare.
First of all, animals raised by the organic method have more space available. Chickens cannot be kept in cages and must have access to outdoor space for at least one-third of their existence. Each hen is entitled to a space of 4 square meters outside, while inside the maximum capacity is 6 heads per square meter. The feed given should always be of plant origin, organic and free of GMOs or derivatives.
The administration of antibiotics for preventive use (prophylaxis) is prohibited, and treatment following the appearance of signs of infection (metaphylaxis) should be limited to the most severe cases. Slow-growing animals, which are more resistant than those used in conventional farming, are used. With a double biological cycle, as slaughtering is allowed after 81 days of age (instead of after 40 days). (4)
Antibiotics-free
‘Antibiotics-free ‘(Antibiotics-free) is an increasingly common claim on the labels of poultry meat sold in Italy. In fact, the latest report from GS1-Italy’s Immagino Observatory, Oi 2019 – 2, records exponential growth in the supply of such products in the modern distribution channel.
This wording-although lacking specific regulation to date-is meant to signify that the animals from which the meat or eggs so marked are derived have not been administered antibiotics in the entire course of their existence. Instead, products that are derived from animals on which this treatment could not be avoided are instead ‘downgraded’ and sold without displaying the claim ‘antibiotic-free‘ on the label (under penalty of being charged with the crime of trade fraud).
The experience gained on ‘antibiotics free‘ supply chains has enabled Italian poultry industry operators to work diligently on improving the environmental conditions of the plant. Bedding sanitation and staff training, ventilation and heating. Resulting in significantly improved overall levels of hygiene and safety, animal welfare, and impact on the environment. In the One Health logic that the World Health Organization(WHO) has adopted and theEuropean Union actually follows.
‘Antibiotic-free’ Italian experiences
The first company to eliminate antibiotics in the production process was the Guidi company of Roncofreddo (FC), followed by Fileni and ValVerde. However, the revolution came when Coop Italia, the first large retail group in Italy, launched the ‘Let’s raise health‘ project. Introducing to the national market 25 references of meat from chickens raised without the use of antibiotics, as well as two references of eggs that come from free-range and antibiotic-free farms.
Some activists argue that the words ‘antibiotic-free‘ on the label are not sufficient to express an actual improvement in animal welfare, as other veterinary drugs (such as coccidiostat ionophores, for chickens) are still allowed to be used. This is an issue that can be explored further in the appropriate forums, with a view to the possible development of an appropriate breeding standard.
The question of sexation
Sexing is another critical element for the sustainability of the agricultural supply chain. Where it is the practice on most laying hen farms to kill all male-born chicks at birth. Approximately 7 million creatures are exterminated each year worldwide, even in self-styled ‘sustainable’ supply chains, due to cynical opportunism and lack of strategic vision. relying on the absence of bans and the lack of awareness of this phenomenon among consumAtors.
Coop Italia was the first Italian operator to move in the cruelty-free direction, banning the sexing from supply chains of all own-brand eggs. Following the example of Coop Switzerland and Seleggt, a supplier to the Rewe Group.
On 1/28/20, French Agriculture Minister Didier Guillaume announced that France will introduce a nationwide ban on sexing, to apply by the end of 2021. German Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner in turn described the practice-which results in the killing of some 45 million chicks in Germany each year-as ‘ethically unacceptable,’ calling for its ban.
Egg nomenclature
The egg nomenclature adopted in Europe is also worth communicating to consumers the type of farming adopted. The character that identifies the type of breeding is the first number that appears in the code. (5) For example, 1IT032TV040:
0 = biological (see above),
1 = ‘outdoor’ breeding. In this case, the hens have 2.5 square meters of outdoor space, and can live together in 9 in each square meter of space, (6)
2 = ‘ground breeding’. Again 9 hens per sq m but inside the sheds, with no access to the outside, (7)
3 = ‘cage rearing’. Cages little larger than an A4 sheet, equipped with a nest, litter box and sand. (8)
Dario Dongo and Alessandra Mei
Notes
(1) See dir. 1999/74/EC, Establishing minimum standards for the protection of laying hens. ‘Member states shall ensure that rearing in the cages referred to in this chapter is prohibited as of January 1, 2012. In addition, the construction or operation for the first time of cages referred to in this chapter shall be prohibited as of January 1, 2003’ (art 5.2)
(2) See dir. 1999/74/EC. ‘Member States shall ensure that, as of January 1, 2002, all breeding facilities referred to in this chapter, whether new or renovated or put into operation for the first time, meet at least the requirements listed below:
1) All facilities must be equipped to ensure that all laying hens have: […]
(c) of at least one nest per 7 laying hens. If group nests are used, an area of at least 1 m2 must be provided for a maximum of 120 hens; (d) of appropriate perches, free of sharp edges and providing at least 15 cm of space per hen. […] (e) of a litter area of at least 250 cm2 per hen; the litter must occupy at least one-third of the floor area.[…]
(a) in rearing systems that allow laying hens to move freely between different levels:
(i) the number of overlapping levels is limited to 4;
(ii) the minimum clear height between levels must be 45 cm’ (Art. 4.1)
(3) See dir. 2007/43/EC., which establishes minimum standards for the protection of chickens raised for meat production. ‘Member states shall ensure that the maximum stocking density on a farm or in a poultry house on a farm does not exceed 33 kg/m2 at any time‘ (Article 3.2)
(4) See reg. EU 2018/848, on organic production and labeling of organic products. Annex II, Part II. See previous article
(5) Cf. d.lgs. 267/03, Implementation of Directives 1999/74/EC and 2002/4/EC, for the protection of laying hens and the registration of their breeding establishments. Annex E, Code for Breeding Method. Art 2.2.2, ‘Breeding methods as defined in Regulation (EEC) No. 1274/91, as amended, used in breeding should be indicated by the following code: “1” Outdoors; “2” On the ground; “3” In cages. The breeding method used on farms whose production takes place in accordance with the conditions specified by Regulation (EEC) No. 2092/91 should be indicated as follows: “0” Organic production.‘
(6) Cf. d.lgs. 267/03 (Annex B), dir. 1999/74/EC, reg. EU 2168/2017
(7) Cf. d.lgs. 267/03, Annex B. ‘1.As of the effective date of this Decree, breeding facilities referred to in this Annex, whether new, renovated or put into operation for the first time, shall: c) have a stocking density of not more than 9 laying hens per square meter of usable area‘
(8) Cf. d.lgs. 267/03, Annex D. ‘As of the effective date of this Decree, all cages referred to in this Annex shall: a) allow laying hens to have: (1) of at least 750 square centimeters of cage area per laying hen, including 600 square centimeters of usable area, provided that the height of the cage, other than the height above the usable area, shall not be less than 20 centimeters at any point and the total area of each cage shall not be less than 2,000 square centimeters. Included in the calculation of 600 square centimeters of usable area is the egg-saving band, placed behind the feeder, as long as it does not exceed eight centimeters measured in horizontal projection; 2) Of a nest; 3) Of a litter box that allows pecking and scratching; 4) Of appropriate perches that provide at least 6 inches of space per laying hen‘ (Article 1).
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
Graduated in Law from the University of Bologna, she attended the Master in Food Law at the same University. You participate in the WIISE srl benefit team by dedicating yourself to European and international research and innovation projects.
