Thank you for your continued interest in this discussion and thorough comments.
Many of you have highlighted the need for better education and communication on the benefits of eggs. One example of a successful initiative out of Canada was a Physician Education Program, through which Egg Farmers of Canada spent 7 years meeting with individual Family Physicians across Canada to share recent science related to eggs, cholesterol and nutrition. Through this program, they were able to reduce the number of Canadian Family Physicians limiting their patients’ egg consumption from 65% to 25%. This played a huge role in improving the perceptions of eggs with the medical community, and in turn with their patients.
Santosh Kumar Mishra describes some of the standards in place on American farms to maintain the safety of eggs and the welfare of the hens. The Canadian industry has similar programs in place and will be launching a new program in 2019 which will tell consumers, through the use of an on-pack mark, that their eggs are produced according to highest food safety and animal care standards. The Egg Quality Assurance (EQA) program goes hand-in-hand with Egg Farmers of Canada’s commitment to continuously improve and strengthen egg farming practices to safeguard Canada’s food supply. The British Lion Egg program is another example of a long-standing and successful program that has increased the trust in the egg industry and greatly reduced the presence of Salmonella in the UK since its launch in 1998.
On the topic of sustainable nutrition, I’d like to share an article written by Dr.Mickey Rubin, Executive Director for the Egg Nutrition Center in the United States. The article, titled “Healthy, Sustainable Eating Patterns and the Importance of the Big Picture” highlights some of the key findings from a Lancet Planet Health study looking at measures of sustainability in recommended dietary patterns, and really illustrates the much broader considerations in sustainable nutrition than just greenhouse gas emissions. To further emphasize the societal aspects of sustainability, Dr. Rubin also touches on the Lulun project in Ecuador, which is also referred to in the special supplement of the Journal of Maternal and Chid Nutrition we have framed this discussion forum around.
There is an important message in Rose Hogan's comments towards farmers working together and collaborating to find efficiencies and to address challenges. I have had the opportunity to see the positive impact of farm communities working together across the world, and whole-heartedly believe that this not only strengthens the voice of the farmer in the value chain, but also delivers tremendous value to the entire agricultural community.
Olutosin Otekunrin comments raise an important point in disease prevention and management. Avian Influenza is a significant threat to egg producers around the world. This risk underlines the importance of bio-security in preventing outbreaks and reducing subsequent transmissions. There is interesting work being conducted around the world on this specific topic. Some members of the Forum may be interested in the reading up on the Avian Influenza Global Expert Group. The group contains senior representatives from the World Organisation for Animal Health, world-class scientists and industry representatives. Their focus is to come up with practical ways of better managing this threat.
Thanks again for your thoughtful comments and insight. As Saul has already touched on, we look forward to your thoughts on strengthening animal welfare, increasing demand and consumption of eggs, and identifying production efficiencies.
Tim Lambert