Presentation Sneak Peeks

Egg Farmers of Canada: Shaping our pathway to net-zero emissions

Mr. Glen Jennings, Egg Farmers of Canada

In March 2023, Egg Farmers of Canada announced a commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 as the next step in the sustainability journey of Canada’s egg farmers. The commitment builds on five decades of work to embrace research, innovation and techniques that support sustainable agricultural practices. This longstanding track-record of sustainable initiatives and programs has led to efficiencies and productivity gains within the egg farming sector, allowing farmers to produce more eggs while using fewer resources. With the goal of stepping up their commitment to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions, Egg Farmers of Canada is currently undertaking a comprehensive consultation to evaluate how they can scale up their initiatives and inform the development of a roadmap to net-zero for the Canadian egg farming sector. This presentation will offer a look at what motivated Egg Farmers of Canada's decision to work toward a net-zero target and the steps the organization is undertaking to establish a pathway forward.

Supporting sustainability measurement and management in eggs: Methods, models, applications

Dr. Nathan Pelletier, University of British Columbia

The sustainability of animal agriculture has moved to the fore of contemporary food systems discourse. As a result, increasing expectations from supply chain partners and consumers with respect to sustainability measurement, management and reporting, as well as regulatory and market access considerations present both opportunities and challenges for the egg industry.

Application of standardized methods and use of high quality data are foundational to effective sustainability measurement and management efforts. This presentation will describe the current state of art in sustainability assessment, providing examples from sustainability research in the industry egg. This includes the development of baseline industry models, assessment of green technology options for egg farmers, and the creation of a farm-level sustainability measurement and management platform. Key opportunities for sustainability impact mitigation  will also be identified and discussed. 

Environmental footprinting at the farm level - an industry tool example

Mr. David Dayhoff, DSM-Firmenich

Assessing and improving animal protein’s sustainability and environmental footprint is a dynamic space involving industry associations, NGOs and companies themselves. David will provide the perspective of an animal nutrition company and their opportunities to play a part in the improvement journey of the feed and animal agriculture industry, including dsm-firmenich’s Sustell platform as an example.

A review of some key critical sustainability challenges for the U.S. egg sector

Mr. Tom Hebert, Bayard Ridge Group

The sustainability rubber really meets the road for an agricultural sector like egg farming when evolving federal environmental programs can lead to greater and very specific requirements regarding water and air quality and how egg farms operate. Recent developments under the Clean Water Act, the anticipated conclusion of the long-running Clean Air Act/EPCRA drama involving Air Consent Agreements, the National Air Emissions Monitoring Study and ammonia emissions factors, and the back and forth over EPCRA reporting will play into how the public views the environmental performance of the egg sector.  These developments also could result in new federal or state regulatory requirements.   It is critical that any sustainability program for egg farmers directly support and align with how egg farmers and the egg industry as a whole successfully tackles these challenges. 

False Layer Syndrome: Vaccines and maternal antibodies as control measures

Dr. Rachael Louise Jude, University of California - Davis

False Layer Syndrome is devastating to a flocks productivity and a producers bottom line. In this presentation you will learn about how researchers worked to investigate the relationship between passive immunity and the development of false layer syndrome by comparing the long-term reproductive effects of both wild-type infectious bronchitis virus and IBV vaccine in birds with and without maternal antibodies. These findings can have implications for how the industry can move forward in facing this disease.

Our Hens’ Health: Current and potential future disease challenges from a field perspective

Dr. Michaela Olson, Wilson Veterinary Co.

Spotty Liver, Coryza, and Red Mites, oh my! What is the current state of health of laying hen flocks in the US? Wilson Vet Co. provides veterinary services to 65 million laying hens in various geographic locations so, let's talk about our hen's health with discussion on current and potential future disease challenges that we are seeing in the field.  

The good, bad, and ugly - handicapping the prospects of animal ag in a carbon-sensitive environment

Joe Kerns, Partners for Production Agriculture

Saving the planet through decarbonization -- can we do it?  Who will pay? What are the impacts to animal agriculture?  These are real items that deserve some attention and discussion.  In this presentation, we will address all three questions and provide the current directives for interpretation.  Hint: if you are not offended, you are not listening.  There is plenty of work to do and an abundance of opportunities in front of us.