Poultry and eggs, global demand growing. The sustainability challenge

Global demand for poultry and eggs is continuously growing, according to the latest FAO data. High biological value proteins and affordable costs are the keys to a success that however once again puts us before the greatest challenge. The sustainability of production and consumption, ranked 12th among the Sustainable Development Goals (Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs), in the UN 2030 Agenda.

Poultry meats, global demand growing

From 1960 to today The per capita consumption of poultry meat has increased fivefold, that of eggs has doubled. It is expected that global demand for poultry meat, between 2000 and 2030, will triple in South Asia (+271%), more than double in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (+116%), and nearly double in both the Middle East and North Africa (+97%) and East Asia and the Pacific (+91%).

The surge in demand is attributed to population growth and urbanization – as already outlined in the UN TWI2050 report (The World In 2050), but also to the continuous increase in individual consumption of these commodities. Regardless of world region and income levels considered, albeit with a higher growth rate in Low and Middle Income Countries (Low-Middle Income Countries, LMIC).

Poultry meat and eggs They already represent the main sources of animal proteins at the global level, followed by pork meat. In fact, their valuable nutritional values are associated with low production costs and the absence of religious or cultural restrictions on their consumption (which affect about 2 billion people for pork meat).

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 has been seen, represents a crucial objective for modern society. At the global, European, and Italian levels.

The  Food security (i.e., food supply security) however cannot disregard – as highlighted in SDG 2 itself and recalled in the subsequent SDG 12 – sustainability in agriculture and livestock farming. Nor can it ignore  food safety, food safety, as emphasized in the latest report ‘The Future of Food Safety’ by FAO, WHO, WTO and  African Union. And reiterated by the UN at the first  World Food Safety Day, June 7, 2019.

Sustainable poultry farming, the European example for FAO

Farming practices and production in poultry farming must be aligned with  standards hygienic-sanitary, environmental, and animal welfare standards effectively able to guarantee safe, ethical, and sustainable food for the world's populations. Following, where possible, the requirements of the organic sector which better than others guarantee, especially in this supply chain, the best chances of achieving these goals.

‘Ensure responsible production and consumption’ (SDG 12).

The European Union can represent the example to follow for the sustainable and effective development of the global agricultural supply chain. Thanks to a system of rules which – as epidemiological data on foodborne infections show – is light years ahead of the livestock farming ‘models’ applied in the USA, Brazil, and other major exporters of poultry products.

The new FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu He will therefore be able to consider the European example and follow its ongoing update. The tremendous success of the European Citizens’ Initiative #EndTheCageEra must indeed lead to an evolution of the rules in the name of animal welfare. And likewise food safety, also regarding residues of veterinary drugs (whose use has already been subject to recent reforms).

Intensive poultry farming, the EU rules

EU rules on intensive poultry farming banned battery cages in 2012. (1) The cages must meet minimum measurements and limits of animal concentration housed therein. The available space remains limited, and this is why European citizens have supported the initiative ‘End The Cage’. Because it is still possible, for example, to keep 13 laying hens in each cage one square meter in size and 45 cm high. Spaces that don’t even allow hens to spread their wings. Those reared on the floor live a little better but not too much, 9 in the 1 sqm cage. (2)

Broiler chickens  are 'floor-reared', but inside sheds often artificially lit and ventilated. With an even higher stocking density, 20 animals per square meter. (3) The sector rules in Europe evolved earlier than elsewhere, somewhat overcoming the resistances of the lobby of industrial agriculture. However, animal welfare is effectively reserved, in the poultry sector, for organic productions.

Overcrowding still tolerated in conventional productions exposes chickens to greater risks of disease, as well as injuries and cannibalism. It also leads to greater use of veterinary drugs, whose abuse is linked, among other things, to the phenomena of antibiotic resistance (AMR,  Anti-Microbial Resistance) and multi-antibiotic resistance (MDR,  Multiple Drug Resistance), already widespread in some zoonoses transmissible to humans such as certain strains of Salmonella.

Organic farming, the EU rules

Organic farming follow criteria that today represent the best expression of animal welfare (even if, in view of 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.

Animals Animals raised with the organic method, first of all, have more space available. Chickens cannot be kept in cages and must have access to an outdoor space for at least one third of their existence. Each hen is entitled to 4 square meters of outdoor space, while indoor capacity is a maximum of 6 heads per square meter. The feed administered must always be of plant origin, organic, and free from GMOs or derivatives.

The administration is forbidden of antibiotics for preventive use (prophylaxis) and treatments following the appearance of signs of infection (metaphylaxis) must be limited to the most serious cases. Slow-growing animals are used, more resistant than those used in conventional farming. With a biological cycle twice as long, as slaughter is allowed after 81 days of life (instead of after 40 days). (4)

Antibiotics-free

‘Without use of antibiotics’ (Antibiotics-free) is a  claim increasingly common on the labels of poultry meat sold in Italy. The latest report from the Osservatorio Immagino of GS1-Italy, Oi 2019 – 2, indeed records an exponential growth in the supply of such products in the modern distribution channel.

This wording – although still lacking specific regulations – means that the animals from which the meat or eggs so labeled derive have not been administered antibiotics throughout their entire life. Products derived from animals on which it was not possible to avoid this treatment are instead 'downgraded' and sold without displaying the claim ‘without antibiotics' on the label (under penalty of prosecution for commercial fraud).

The experience gained on the supply chains ‘antibiotics free’ has allowed the operators of the Italian poultry supply chain to work diligently to improve the environmental conditions of the establishment. Litter sanitization and staff training, aeration and heating. With the result of significantly improving overall levels of hygiene and safety, animal welfare, environmental impact. In the logic  One Health that the World Health Organization (WHO,  World Health Organization) has adopted and the European Union effectively follows.

‘Antibiotics free’, the Italian experiences

The first company to eliminate antibiotics in the production process was the Guidi company of Roncofreddo (FC), followed by Fileni and ValVerde. The revolution, however, occurred when Coop Italia, the leading retail group in Italy, launched the project ‘We Raise Health’. Presenting on the national market 25 references of meat from chickens raised without the use of antibiotics, as well as two references of eggs coming from free-range farms and without the use of antibiotics.

Some activists  argue that the label ‘without antibiotics’ on the label is not sufficient to express an effective improvement in animal welfare, since the use of other veterinary drugs (such as ionophore coccidiostats for chickens) is still allowed. A topic that may be further explored in competent forums, in view of the possible development of a specific farming standard.

The issue of sexing

Sexing is another critical element for the sustainability of the agricultural supply chain. Where it is customary, in most laying hen farms, to kill all male chicks at birth. About 7 million creatures are exterminated every year worldwide, even in so-called ‘sustainable’ supply chains, due to cynical opportunism and lack of strategic vision. Relying on the absence of bans and the low awareness of this phenomenon among consumers.

Coop Italia was the first Italian operator to move in the direction  cruelty-free, banning the culling in the supply chains of all own-brand eggs. Following the example of Coop Switzerland and Seleggt, supplier of the Rewe group.

On 28.1.20 the French Minister of Agriculture Didier Guillaume announced that France will introduce a nationwide ban on culling, to be applied by the end of 2021. The German Minister of Agriculture Julia Klöckner in turn described this practice – which in Germany involves the killing of about 45 million chicks every year – as 'ethically unacceptable', calling for its ban.

Egg nomenclature

The egg nomenclature adopted in Europe also serves to communicate to consumers the type of farming used. The character identifying the type of farming is the first number appearing in the code. (5) For example 1IT032TV040:

0 = organic (see above),

1 = ‘outdoor farming’. In this case, hens have 2.5 square meters of outdoor space, and up to 9 hens can coexist in each square meter, (6)

2 = ‘barn farming’. Also in this case 9 hens per sqm but inside barns, without access to the outside, (7)

3 = ‘cage farming’. Cages slightly larger than an A4 sheet, equipped with nest, litter, and sand. (8)

Dario Dongo and Alessandra Mei

Notes

(1) See dir. 1999/74/EC, which establishes minimum standards for the protection of laying hens. 'Member States shall ensure that the keeping of laying hens in battery cages is prohibited from 1 January 2012. Furthermore, the construction or first use of such cages shall be prohibited from 1 January 2003' (art 5.2)

(2) Cf. dir. 1999/74/EC. 'Member States shall ensure that, as from 1 January 2002, all new, renovated, or first-used farms under this chapter meet at least the following requirements:

1) All facilities must be equipped to ensure that all laying hens have: […]

c) at least one nest per 7 laying hens. If group nests are used, an area of at least 1 m2 for a maximum of 120 laying hens must be provided; d) appropriate perches, without sharp edges and offering at least 15 cm of space per hen. […] e) a litter surface of at least 250 cm2 per laying hen; the litter must cover 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 stacked levels is limited to 4;

ii) the minimum free height between the various levels must be 45 cm (art. 4.1)

(3) V. dir. 2007/43/CE, which lays down minimum standards for the protection of chickens kept for meat production. ‘Member States shall ensure that the maximum stocking density in a holding or in a poultry house of a holding shall not at any time exceed 33 kg/m2’ (article 3.2)

(4) See Reg. EU 2018/848, concerning organic production and labeling of organic products. Annex II, Part II. See previous article

(5) See Legislative Decree 267/03,  Implementation of directives 1999/74/EC and 2002/4/EC, for the protection of laying hens and the registration of the related breeding establishments. Annex E, Code for the breeding method. Art 2.2.2, 'The breeding methods as defined in regulation (EEC) no. 1274/91, as amended, used in breeding must be indicated with the following code: «1» Outdoor; «2» Ground; «3» In cages. The breeding method used in breeding farms whose production takes place under the conditions specified by regulation (EEC)No. 2092/91 must be indicated as follows: «0» Organic production.’

(6) Cf. Legislative Decree 267/03 (Annex B), Directive 1999/74/EC, EU Regulation 2168/2017

(7) Cf. Legislative Decree 267/03, Annex B.1. From the date of entry into force of this decree, the breeding facilities referred to in this annex, new, renovated or put into operation for the first time, must: c) have a density coefficient not exceeding 9 laying hens per square meter of usable area’

(8) Cf. Legislative Decree 267/03, Annex D.From the date of entry into force of this decree, all cages referred to in this annex must: a) allow laying hens to have: 1) at least 750 square centimeters of cage surface per laying hen, of which 600 square centimeters is usable surface, provided that the height of the cage, other than the height above the usable surface, is not less than 20 cm at any point and the total surface area of each cage cannot be less than 2000square centimeters. In the calculation of the 600 square centimeters of usable surface, the egg-saving strip located behind the feeder is included, provided it does not exceed eight centimeters measured in horizontal projection; 2) a nest; 3) a litter that allows pecking and scratching; 4) appropriate perches offering at least 15 cm of space per laying hen’ (article 1).