Global trends in egg production have continued to evolve toward more humane and sustainable practices. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

A new survey has revealed that more than 80% of Malaysians favour humane farming, urging Chinese and Malaysian egg producers to hold a collaborative education and sharing session on 8 May, to discuss the growing market opportunity in cage-free egg production

Hosted by the Beijing Egg Industry Association, consultancy Lever China, and international NGO Lever Foundation, the event entitled, 'Sino-Malaysia Cage-Free Egg Symposium: Unlocking Success Together,' aims to equip Malaysian egg producers with insights from leading Chinese egg producers in China who have expanded to include cage-free production in response to growing corporate and consumer demand. 

The event comes as a new survey conducted by GMO Research finds that an overwhelming 83% agree that food companies should source their eggs from a supply chain that adheres to humane standards of animal treatment. Additionally, nearly 60% of Malaysian consumers said they were more inclined to patronise a food brand that sourced only cage-free eggs and more than 60% were also willing to pay more for cage-free eggs if they were slightly more expensive than traditional caged eggs.

Based on current corporate commitments in Malaysia, Lever Foundation predicts that the demand for cage-free eggs will increase by 395 million eggs per year within the next several years.Global trends in egg production have continued to evolve toward more humane and sustainable practices, as numerous studies by the European Food Safety Authority and others have consistently found cage-free production to have far lower rates of salmonella contamination, making them healthier and safer for consumers. 

"In addition to the increasing demand from consumers for cage-free eggs, a growing number of food companies have committed to only source eggs from cage-free supply chains, which will require an increase in cage-free production in the Malaysian market," said Vilosha Sivaraman, Sustainability Programme manager at Lever Foundation, which supports food companies in Malaysia transition toward cage-free eggs.

For more information about the event, visit: https://form.evenesis.com/cage-free2024 

The joint venture aims to develop and expand gut health solutions products including probiotics for farm animals in China. (Image source: Vland Biotech)

Evonik Vland Biotech, a joint venture co-built by Evonik China Co Ltd and Shandong Vland Biotech Co Ltd. officially commenced operation on 14 March in Qingdao, China 

Headquartered in Vland Biotech Innovation Park in Qingdao, the joint venture aims to develop and expand gut health solutions products including probiotics for China's farm animals. Head of Evonik's life science division Nutrition & Care, the Animal Nutrition business line, Johann-Caspar Gammelin highlighted that their cooperation with Vland was a crucial step in realising their commitment to providing biosolutions including probiotics for animal gut health for the feed industry. 

The agreement will allow Evonik to distribute the joint venture’s portfolio outside of the Greater China region, while also allowing the company to expand its gut health solutions by adding broader formulation elements to its global product portfolio. 

"Vland and Evonik have been expanding and deepening our cooperation areas in the past decade," said chairman and president of Vland Group, Chen Gang. The joint venture will make full use of and give full play to each other’s strengths, and deliver efficient products and solutions in animal gut health for users both in China and abroad."

General manager of Evonik Vland Biotech (Shandong) Co Ltd., Dr Wang Xu agreed that the joint venture would greatly benefit from the strong innovation capabilities, applied technology expertise and excellent reputation of the two parent companies, thereby delivering innovative products and solutions to the market and creating more value for their customers. 

For more information, visit: https://corporate.evonik.cn/en and http://www.vlandbiochem.com/ 

dsm-firmenich and Agrifirm pioneer sustainable poultry production with innovative Sustell-PoultryNEXT venture. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

dsm-firmenich, a leading innovator in nutrition, health, and beauty, has joined forces with Agrifirm, a prominent agricultural cooperative, to unveil an innovative joint venture aimed at revolutionising poultry production 

Food ingredients company, Cargill has launched a patent-pending breakthrough technology, empowering producers to optimise laying persistency and egg production