Antwerp and KU Leuven aim to make egg production sustainable

The province of Antwerp and KU Leuven are behind an interregional research project focusing on "future-oriented egg production and animal welfare". A dozen European partners are working on the project, called Omelette, which has received 3.6 million euros in funding from the EU.

The province's poultry research centre, in collaboration with KU Leuven, is investigating innovations in the sector, such as using digital and manual techniques to monitor animal behaviour.

Along with European partners, they will try to "remove obstacles and promote the introduction of long-lived hens in practice". This means optimising existing techniques and measures to increase animal longevity. The project will focus on the use of dynamic lighting and different breeds, dietary calcium optimisation, hen behaviour, housing systems and female embryo selection.

"Together we can develop a future-oriented, resilient and sustainable egg production in northwest Europe"

All knowledge and techniques will be co-created with all partners and integrated into a Longevity Action Plan, which will be demonstrated on pilot farms in Belgium, the Netherlands and France.

"We consume an average of 210 eggs per person per year in our region," says Antwerp's alderman responsible for agriculture, Kathleen Helsen. "Together we can develop a future-oriented, resilient and sustainable egg production in northwest Europe."

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