What makes Canadian eggs so sustainable?
By Egg Farmers of CanadaCanadian egg farmers are passionate about providing fresh, high-quality eggs while taking care of their animals, communities and the environment. Explore this page to learn more about our commitment to sustainability.
Why do egg farmers embrace sustainability?
Hear about the importance of sustainable farming from Glen Jennings and his son Blake of Bayview Poultry Farms.
The five pillars of sustainable egg farming
Our approach to sustainability is built around five pillars that inform our actions as we continue producing high-quality eggs for generations to come.
1. Animal care and welfare
Egg farmers protect the health and welfare of their hens through world-class standards and by pressing forward on continuous improvements.
- All egg farmers participate in a national, comprehensive Animal Care Program. This program considers the latest science, technology and animal welfare knowledge to promote excellence in animal care.
- The program was recognized by the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) for including all applicable requirements outlined in the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pullets and Laying Hens. The recognition confirms our commitment to rigorous animal welfare standards and adds further confidence to the standards in place on Canadian egg farms.
2. Product quality, safety and nutrition
Egg farmers take pride in delivering safe, high-quality eggs to Canadians. Each egg meets strict national food safety standards.
- Every egg farmer in Canada follows the Start Clean–Stay Clean® on-farm food safety program. The program is based on the internationally accepted HACCP approach to prevent, reduce or eliminate food safety hazards.
- Egg farmers must meet the requirements of both the national Animal Care Program and Start Clean-Stay Clean® program to receive and maintain their Egg Quality Assurance™ (EQA®) certification.
3. Environmental impact
Canadian egg farmers are continuously finding new ways to make egg production more environmentally sound and improve the efficiency of their operations.
- Over 50 years, Canadian egg production has increased by 50%, while the industry’s environmental footprint decreased by almost 50%.
- By investing in research and initiatives that drive farm-level improvements, farmers are reducing emissions that impact air, water and soil. A recent example is the National Environmental Sustainability and Technology Tool, our one-of-a-kind on-farm sustainability assessment tool.
- The Canadian egg industry announced its commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 as the next step in our sustainability journey. The commitment builds on five decades of work to embrace techniques that support sustainable agricultural practices.
4. Enhancing the well-being of others
Egg farmers are proud to produce a quality product for their fellow Canadians while also supporting the food sovereignty and security of our communities.
- The unique system of supply management delivers a steady supply of local eggs for Canadians and offers stability for egg farmers. This allows them to plan for the future and invest in research and innovation.
- At home, we are proud to enhance the health of Canadians by supporting the work of Food Banks Canada and Breakfast Club of Canada. Around the world, our work with Heart for Africa and Canadian Food For Children brings the nutrition of eggs to those who need it most.
5. Empowering our people
We empower our people to make decisions that make a difference and nurture the next generation of leaders in our industry.
- Our national young farmer program and women in the egg industry program provide continuing education and skill-building opportunities to nurture the next generation of agriculture leaders.