The Affiliation of Poultry Processors and Poultry Commerce within the EU Nations (AVEC) has revealed immediately a brand new examine analysing in depth the extra prices and certain implications of adopting the European Rooster Dedication (ECC) within the EU.
Quite a few firms throughout Europe, spanning from retailers to eating places and catering companies, have already signed as much as the ECC, a framework of requirements promoted by animal welfare NGOs, which goals to reinforce animal welfare and exceeds present EU laws. The ECC commits its signatories to use a number of necessities equivalent to using slower-growing rooster breeds, a decrease stocking density, using enrichment instruments and so forth, to 100% of their (recent, frozen and processed) poultry provide chain by 2026.
As ECC compliance progresses, essential questions relating to its environmental implications and its results on rooster meat manufacturing stay unanswered. To make clear these points, AVEC has commissioned a complete affect examine inspecting the potential penalties of absolutely transitioning from present EU rooster meat manufacturing to ECC requirements, performed independently by RSK ADAS Ltd (ADAS) – a consultancy agency specialising in agriculture.
“The distinctive side of this examine lies within the emphasis positioned on calculating prices per kilogram of meat, in contrast to earlier analysis centered solely on the implications for reside birds or liveweight, which doesn’t precisely mirror market realities since we promote meat, not reside animals”, states Birthe Steenberg, AVEC’s Secretary Basic. Jason Gittins, Technical Director for livestock at ADAS, explains additional: “Resulting from variations in meat yields between normal and ECC manufacturing, earlier research typically underestimated the true affect of switching to ECC requirements”.
The ”Prices and Implications of the European Rooster Dedication within the EU” examine finds that absolutely transitioning to ECC requirements would end in:
- A further manufacturing value of 37.5% per kilogram of meat,
- a 35.4% enhance in water consumption, equating to an extra 12.44 million cubic meters yearly,
- a 35.5% enhance in feed consumption, amounting to an extra 7.3 million tonnes,
- a 24.4% rise in greenhouse fuel emissions per kilogram of meat produced,
- a discount of 44% within the complete meat produced in comparison with normal manufacturing strategies at current in present EU rising house (>30kg/m²),
- and the need to assemble 9,692 new poultry homes, with an estimated value of €8.24 billion, to keep up present manufacturing ranges.
These results on manufacturing would inevitably result in greater costs that would exclude a big a part of shoppers from shopping for rooster meat or drastically enhance imports from third nations with decrease animal welfare requirements. AVEC’s President, Gert-Jan Oplaat, emphasises the significance of shopper alternative and knowledgeable decision-making: “Whereas the ECC goals to enhance animal welfare, it’s essential to recognise that these enhancements include vital financial and environmental implications. Realizing that EU poultry consumption is predicted to develop within the EU within the subsequent 10 years, shoppers ought to have the selection to pick greater welfare merchandise if they need, nevertheless it’s essential that normal, reasonably priced choices stay accessible”.
AVEC reaffirms the EU poultry sector’s dedication to steady enchancment of animal welfare in steadiness with financial and environmental sustainability and highlights the necessity for various strategies to reinforce animal welfare with out imposing undue monetary burdens on shoppers or exacerbating environmental issues. The affiliation advocates for the event of output-based animal welfare indicators, grounded in scientific and goal standards to evaluate welfare efficiency, efficient farm administration, complete farmer coaching and a framework that incentivises and encourages progress by way of life like and achievable targets for producers.
“Sustainability necessitates a fragile steadiness between its three pillars, and whereas enhancing animal welfare is paramount, additionally it is vital to take the financial and environmental affect into consideration,” concludes Birthe Steenberg. The EU poultry sector stays dedicated to delivering high-quality, accessible rooster meat produced below the very best requirements on the earth. We encourage shoppers and policymakers to think about the examine’s findings to make knowledgeable choices about rooster manufacturing requirements.
To search out out extra and obtain the total examine, please click on right here.
