Five key takeaways from our 2019 Annual Report

Canadian egg farmers are entering a new decade focused on growth. 2019 saw a string of successes positioning us for a bright future: new high-impact programs, challenges weathered together and a new bold vision for the future. We achieved tremendous growth in 2019 while the industry worked to better itself.

Learn about these successes and more in the newly released Egg Farmers of Canada 2019 Annual Report. Here are five key takeaways from the report.

1. We’ve experienced extraordinary growth and progress

In 2019 alone, there was a 10.3% increase in egg servings at food service. In fact, we’ve enjoyed thirteen consecutive years of growth in the retail sales of eggs—an enviable record for any sector. Production on Canadian farms increased by 62% between 2004 and 2019, and over 774 million dozen eggs were produced in 2019.

Partners across Canada began to feature our Egg Quality Assurance™ certification program, a new mark certifying that Canadian eggs are produced according to strict food safety and animal welfare standards. You may have also seen our popular #EggsAnytime campaign sharing the message that eggs are a great choice any time of day.

2. We’re a leader in sustainable agriculture—and our commitment to sustainability will continue to grow

Farmers have always been the original stewards of our environment. Over 50 years, our industry saw a 50% increase in egg production alongside a 50% decrease in our environmental footprint. In 2019 we undertook an extensive consultation across the egg value chain to identify and prioritize sustainability issues of greatest significance to egg farmers. These have been integrated into the framework which informs our comprehensive, first-ever Sustainability Report—coming later this year. We are proud of our record and excited to go even further in years to come.

3. Trust is at the heart of our success—and we will continue to prioritize building strong relationships between farmers and Canadians

I’ve written in the past about how trust is essential for our industry. In 2019 we continued to build trust between Canadians and Canadian egg farmers. For instance, our It’s Worth It initiative was a celebration of the commitment of Canadian egg farmers and supply management—the system that makes their work possible. Egg farmers are deeply committed to their communities. In 2019, we collectively donated 4.8 million eggs to food banks, breakfast programs, and other charitable organizations.

We continued our strong emphasis on preparing the next generation of leadership in the egg industry. That includes our ongoing national young farmer program, where we bring together young egg farmers from across Canada to learn, foster leadership skills and share best practices. We also launched our new Women in the Egg Industry program, which cultivates leadership skills through a mentorship program and continuing education opportunities.

4. We’ve set our future direction through Vision 2020, a bold vision to build Canada into a world leader in egg consumption in ten years

Our Chair, Roger Pelissero, describes Vision 2020 as “a shift of direction for our industry that is not just about selling more eggs; it is about changing mindsets and reinventing the way we operate.” Vision 2020 showcases how our industry is already contributing to global efforts to produce more food with fewer resources while delivering our product to vulnerable populations.

5. In 2019, we made strides in fulfilling our vision and mission, and 2020 will be no different

At Egg Farmers of Canada, our mission is to position the Canadian egg industry as a leader in Canada’s agricultural future through sustainable growth, continuous improvement and social responsibility. 2019 was a big step forward in fulfilling that mission. We want to see a world where everyone can enjoy the immeasurable benefits of the humble egg—and because of our successes in 2019, we are moving ever closer to that world.

When I look to the future, I see opportunity. Not just for growth in egg production and consumption, but also in identifying new ways to use eggs, new refinements to our practices and new efficiencies. As we continue to improve the sustainability of egg production, the egg will also, increasingly, be a food of the future. That is something we can all be proud of.

Read our full 2019 Annual Report by clicking here.

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