What does egg farming in Canada look like?
Canadian 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.
Learn about egg farming from Canadian farmers Krista, Cathy, Jessica and Barry of B Jack 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 follow rigorous standards to care for their hens.
- Egg farmers participate in a national Animal Care Program. This program considers science, technology and animal welfare knowledge to inform standards for 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.
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.
- Egg farmers in Canada follow 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 working to make egg production more environmentally sound and improving the efficiency of their operations. In fact, research shows that there has been a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) per tonne of eggs produced since 2012.1
- Canadian egg farmers have increased the number of eggs they produce by 50% while the overall environmental footprint of the Canadian egg supply chain has decreased.2
- Wind and solar energy, as well as LED light bulbs, are some of the ways Canadian egg farmers reduce their environmental impact.3
- Egg Farmers of Canada is investing in research and initiatives that drive farm-level improvements, reducing emissions that impact air, water and soil. For example, Canadian egg farmers have access to the National Environmental Sustainability and Technology Tool, where they can assess their farm’s environmental footprint and create a sustainability action plan.
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 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 provides a stable platform 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 nurture the next generation of leaders in our industry, supporting the growth and development of our people.
- 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.
Canadian egg farmers are shaping a bright future.
1 Turner, I., Heidari, D., and Pelletier, N. (2022). Life cycle assessment of contemporary Canadian egg production systems during the transition from conventional cage to alternative housing systems: Update and analysis of trends and conditions. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 176, 105907. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921344921005164
2 Pelletier, N. (2018). Changes in the life cycle environmental footprint of egg production in Canda from 1962 to 2012. Journal of Cleaner Production. 176, 1144-1153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.11.212
3 Pelletier, N., Doyon, M., Muirhead, B., Widowski. T., Nurse, J., and Hunniford, M. (2018). Sustainability in the Canadian Egg Industry — Learning from the Past, Navigating the Present, Planning for the Future. Sustainability. 10(10), 3524. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10103524