alike. Likewise, Aviagen is a responsible company that truly cares about people – our employees, our customers, the wider industry, citizens of communities in which we do business, and others. Our people embody the goals of sustainability, not only in their jobs but in giving back to their communities”.


see the downstream benefits to the entire value chain. Our im- provements in FCR cut down on feed costs. That, coupled with the relatively low start-up costs for a poultry business, strengthens the economic value proposition for chicken production. We also help producers by maintaining a diverse gene pool, which allows us to have a diverse portfolio with the right bird for the right market. In other words, our customers can choose a bird that will thrive in a range of climate and economic conditions throughout the world, while also offering variety to consumers. These advantages are not only for today, but tomorrow as well, as we work closely with our customers to keep in tune with chang- ing consumer preferences. And then, we share knowledge and insight to optimise perfor- mance, health and welfare through our customer service teams, specialists, global schools, seminars and workshops (which during COVID times have taken the form of webinars and virtual events), as well as a library of tools: management essentials, how-to’s, hatchery tips, and other literature that is downloadable from our web site”.


Social: “Chicken is by nature a “social” meat, widely accepted and lacking any negative religious or cultural connotations. It is readily available and contains the right balance of amino acids, making it important for children, pregnant women, and elderly people


What is Aviagen doing to support the UN SDGs prioritised by the IPC? “Of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Inter- national Poultry Council has prioritised 5 where the poultry indus- try can make a clear difference: Zero hunger (SDG2); Good Health (SDG3); Quality Education (SDG4); Industry, innovation and infra- structure (SDG9); and Climate Action (SDG13). To ensure we are breeding for welfare and sustainability, Aviagen puts into practice our Top 5 commitments that directly relate to these five SDGs. If we look at the UN’s goal of Zero Hunger, which is the essence of our first commitment: Health, food safety and food security. Our breeding programme selects birds that have the best health status. Bird health and food safety are protected by rigorous biosecurity that guides everyone and everything that comes in contact with our birds. To strengthen food security, we created local production facilities that are close to our key markets, and have parallel breeding programmes and supply bases on multiple continents”.


What is your view on future challenges and how the poul- try industry will overcome them? “I see a few challenges that, through a spirit of collaboration, transparency and communication, we can rise above. One is to bridge the gap between public perception and the reality of poul- try production. People want to feel comfortable that meat is pro- duced in the right way. Our bird welfare is excellent and we are al- ways looking to improve; it is key we continue to provide the information and reach out so that people see and understand. Another reality is that the world is constantly changing. We have to stay in tune with the market and be ready, as it takes years to develop bird traits and then another four years to multiply them from the higher generations. And finally, our sustainability as an industry depends on our abili- ty to attract bright young minds with a passion for poultry. They are our future, and we can show them that poultry offers exciting careers. Plus, they are making a difference by helping to feed the world. What could be more fulfilling than that?”


▶ SUSTAINABILITY AND WELFARE | OCTOBER 2020 15


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