Europe’s poultry industry faces significant challenges as it prepares to implement the European Chicken Commitment (ECC), also known as the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC), by 2030.
The key requirement under this initiative is reducing the stocking density to 30 kilos per square meter to improve animal welfare. However, this change could lead to a 44% reduction in European poultry production and a 38% increase in production costs. The EU self-sufficiency rate, (currently at 108%) could drop to well below 100% if the ECC/BCC requirements are introduced. Furthermore, the lower stocking density is expected to increase environmental impacts, such as ammonia emissions and CO2 output.
The Study:
A study, commissioned by Avec (the umbrella organization for poultry processors) and conducted by Adas in the UK, compared slow-growing chicken breeds like Hubbard Redbro with more commonly used broiler breeds such as Ross 308. The slow-growing chickens consume more feed and water, produce less meat, and lead to a lower carcass yield. These factors drive up production costs, with negative impacts on the competitiveness of European poultry farmers, who already face higher costs compared to producers in countries like Brazil and Ukraine.
Potential Outcomes:
Despite the expected rise in costs, consumer willingness to pay more for higher-welfare poultry products remains low. Most consumers are unwilling to pay the significant price increases necessary to cover the cost hikes. This, combined with increased imports from countries with lower animal welfare standards, raises concerns about the future of the European poultry industry.
Source: Less occupancy rate of broilers means shortage of European poultry meat
