Sustainability in the Canadian Egg Industry—Learning from the Past, Navigating the Present, Planning for the Future

Like other livestock sectors, the Canadian egg industry has evolved substantially over time and will likely experience similarly significant change looking forward, with many of these changes determining the sustainability implications of and for the industry. Influencing factors include: technologi...

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Main Authors: Nathan Pelletier, Maurice Doyon, Bruce Muirhead, Tina Widowski, Jodey Nurse-Gupta, Michelle Hunniford
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2018-09-01
Series:Sustainability
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/10/3524
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spelling doaj-ce2a79750caf45e5ba9b568de3fe4ab02020-11-25T00:40:21ZengMDPI AGSustainability2071-10502018-09-011010352410.3390/su10103524su10103524Sustainability in the Canadian Egg Industry—Learning from the Past, Navigating the Present, Planning for the FutureNathan Pelletier0Maurice Doyon1Bruce Muirhead2Tina Widowski3Jodey Nurse-Gupta4Michelle Hunniford5340 Charles Fipke Centre for Innovative Research, 3247 University Way, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC V1V1V7, CanadaDepartment of Agricultural Economics and Consumer Science, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, CanadaResearch Oversight and Analysis and Department of History, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, CanadaDepartment of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G2W1, CanadaDepartment of History, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, CanadaBurnbrae Farms Ltd., Lyn, ON K0E1M0, CanadaLike other livestock sectors, the Canadian egg industry has evolved substantially over time and will likely experience similarly significant change looking forward, with many of these changes determining the sustainability implications of and for the industry. Influencing factors include: technological and management changes at farm level and along the value chain resulting in greater production efficiencies and improved life cycle resource efficiency and environmental performance; a changing policy/regulatory environment; and shifts in societal expectations and associated market dynamics, including increased attention to animal welfare outcomes—especially in regard to changes in housing systems for laying hens. In the face of this change, effective decision-making is needed to ensure the sustainability of the Canadian egg industry. Attention both to lessons from the past and to the emerging challenges that will shape its future is required and multi- and interdisciplinary perspectives are needed to understand synergies and potential trade-offs between alternative courses of action across multiple aspects of sustainability. Here, we consider the past, present and potential futures for this industry through the lenses of environmental, institutional (i.e., regulatory), and socio-economic sustainability, with an emphasis on animal welfare as an important emergent social consideration. Our analysis identifies preferred pathways, potential pitfalls, and outstanding cross-disciplinary research questions.http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/10/3524Canadaeggssustainabilityanimal welfareeconomicssupply management
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Nathan Pelletier
Maurice Doyon
Bruce Muirhead
Tina Widowski
Jodey Nurse-Gupta
Michelle Hunniford
spellingShingle Nathan Pelletier
Maurice Doyon
Bruce Muirhead
Tina Widowski
Jodey Nurse-Gupta
Michelle Hunniford
Sustainability in the Canadian Egg Industry—Learning from the Past, Navigating the Present, Planning for the Future
Sustainability
Canada
eggs
sustainability
animal welfare
economics
supply management
author_facet Nathan Pelletier
Maurice Doyon
Bruce Muirhead
Tina Widowski
Jodey Nurse-Gupta
Michelle Hunniford
author_sort Nathan Pelletier
title Sustainability in the Canadian Egg Industry—Learning from the Past, Navigating the Present, Planning for the Future
title_short Sustainability in the Canadian Egg Industry—Learning from the Past, Navigating the Present, Planning for the Future
title_full Sustainability in the Canadian Egg Industry—Learning from the Past, Navigating the Present, Planning for the Future
title_fullStr Sustainability in the Canadian Egg Industry—Learning from the Past, Navigating the Present, Planning for the Future
title_full_unstemmed Sustainability in the Canadian Egg Industry—Learning from the Past, Navigating the Present, Planning for the Future
title_sort sustainability in the canadian egg industry—learning from the past, navigating the present, planning for the future
publisher MDPI AG
series Sustainability
issn 2071-1050
publishDate 2018-09-01
description Like other livestock sectors, the Canadian egg industry has evolved substantially over time and will likely experience similarly significant change looking forward, with many of these changes determining the sustainability implications of and for the industry. Influencing factors include: technological and management changes at farm level and along the value chain resulting in greater production efficiencies and improved life cycle resource efficiency and environmental performance; a changing policy/regulatory environment; and shifts in societal expectations and associated market dynamics, including increased attention to animal welfare outcomes—especially in regard to changes in housing systems for laying hens. In the face of this change, effective decision-making is needed to ensure the sustainability of the Canadian egg industry. Attention both to lessons from the past and to the emerging challenges that will shape its future is required and multi- and interdisciplinary perspectives are needed to understand synergies and potential trade-offs between alternative courses of action across multiple aspects of sustainability. Here, we consider the past, present and potential futures for this industry through the lenses of environmental, institutional (i.e., regulatory), and socio-economic sustainability, with an emphasis on animal welfare as an important emergent social consideration. Our analysis identifies preferred pathways, potential pitfalls, and outstanding cross-disciplinary research questions.
topic Canada
eggs
sustainability
animal welfare
economics
supply management
url http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/10/3524
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