Profile
Jon Krahn’s family started egg farming in 1951 and expand- ed their business to broiler and turkey production.
and was very happy to hear that he was accepted for 2020. “I have the opportunity to build relationships with young leaders from around the world, share best practices and more,” he says. “It’s quite some honour.” Normally, along with other activities, YEL participants attend the two IEC annual conferences held every April and September. However, with the arrival of Covid-19, two online events have been held for YEL members so far. “It’s very refreshing to hear what’s going on around the world, to meet all these other farm- ers, even virtually,” says Krahn. “At the first event we were just ba- sically introducing ourselves and getting to know each other. At the second, we discussed some of the challenges facing the egg industry, such as diseases, the rise of vegan food consumption and animal rights activists, as well as strategies for educating the public about eggs – how to get the message out there that eggs are a very sustainable, safe, affordable and nutritious high-protein food. But I think the real kick-off for our group will be when we meet in person. It’s up in the air what will happen with that but I’m hoping an in-person meeting will be possible.”
Market trends For his own development during the programme, Krahn wants to learn about different ways to farm eggs, farming trends around the world and more about the market challenges in other coun- tries. He notes that: “here in Canada, the gradual removal of con- ventional cages is continuing and that’s a trend that’s happening in many other countries, too. In our egg barns we finished con- verting all our conventional cages to ‘enriched’ housing in late 2020 and we also have some free-run barns as well.”
While the hospitality and food service sector in Canada and other countries has been devastated due to Covid, Krahn notes that Canadians are cooking and eating lots of eggs at home. Canadian table egg consumption grew in 2020, although egg consumption in Canada has grown every year for many years, so it’s nothing extraordinary. Average per capita egg consumption in Canada was 253 in 2018 and 257 in 2019. The 2020 stats will be available soon. “Eggs are such an easy food and cook so quickly,” says Krahn. “They are very versatile as well. I think egg farmers in Canada and many countries around the world are doing a very good job of providing choice. In Canada, we offer white and brown, organic, Vitamin-D enhanced and omega fatty-acid enhanced. Specialty eggs are particularly popular in British Columbia compared to the rest of Canada.”
Staying involved In the future Jon Krahn plans to continue on his present course, working in the family feed mill business and farming with his wife Danielle, their four children and his other family members. He will also continue to serve within industry associations: in the past he has served on the board of the BC Egg Producers Association and he now sits on the BC Egg Marketing Board where his father was its longest-serving director. As he gains more YEL experience, Krahn will bring his insights and knowledge to this position and any others he may have in future. And his favourite way to have eggs? “Poached on toast,” he says. “When we have breakfast, now that the kids are bigger, we eat well over a dozen eggs, so thank goodness we live on an egg farm.”
▶ POULTRY WORLD | No. 5/6, 2021 7
PHOTO: SANDY MCKELLAR
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