Looking ahead and forward planning have long been key elements to farmers’ success – and bringing innovation and collaboration into the mix makes for a powerful combination. Egg producers have a fantastic opportunity to make the most of both at this year’s British Pig & Poultry Fair, helping them to ensure a sustainable and low carbon future for their businesses, according to a recent news release from the British Free Range Egg Producers' Association. 

Profiling exciting new technologies and advice on topics like disease management and alternative proteins, the Fair is focusing on the key themes of innovation, collaboration and sustainability. 

“Ultimately, it is the job of everyone in the supply chain to work together to reduce the egg industry’s carbon impact, and new thinking and technology provide some of the answers here,” said fair organiser Alice Bell.

The Innovation Theatre, new to this year’s Fair, brings together a host of new products and ideas. One example is the launch of a new digital product from Livetec Systems, which will revolutionise biosecurity control and help producer's to contingency plan for any emergency.

“Our Contingency Plans document everything that farmers need to do in the event of an emergency – from flooding to a notifiable disease outbreak,” said Julian Sparrey, Technical Director at Livetec Systems. “This is critical when farm businesses are under pressure to respond quickly, as it details everything that those coming on to the farm will need to know, as well as informing the farmer of how these next steps will play out.”

BFREPA chairman James Baxter will join Livetec on stage to speak about how a robust contingency plan saved him £45,000 in compensation alone, by saving time – and therefore mortality - before depopulation could start following an avian influenza outbreak. “What we really want to highlight is the importance of being prepared so you can react quickly to protect your business,” said Baxter.

Another Innovation Theatre session will explore the circular economy from the perspective of animal bedding. The 2050 Biomethane Energy Group is creating a new highly absorbent straw crumb which will be provided free to farmers so that the resulting manure can be processed into biomethane, CO2 and fertiliser.

“This fertiliser can be used to displace predominantly imported fossil fuel fertilisers, to grow the next crops and their straw, which begins the process again,” said CEO James Dornan. “It keeps repeating each year in perfect harmony with nature, improving biodiversity and the management of manures to land; especially from West to East, where there is massive discord between livestock and crop production.”

In addition, there will be a forum on insect farming, with Beta Bugs and Flybox talking about their combined solution which takes complexity and cost out of insect farming, by supplying eggs and larvae in containerised systems. “Demand for insect protein as alternatives to existing feed ingredients is increasing, making insect farming a mainstream opportunity,” said Thomas Farrugia, CEO at Beta Bugs.

Visitors to the Fair, which is partnered by ABN, will also be able to browse new products from around 340 exhibitors. And they can listen to expert speakers in the specialist Poultry Theatre. The headline session will be the popular Egg Outlook, which will see speakers from throughout the supply chain consider the challenges and opportunities ahead. Other forums include a session with Defra’s Animal Health and Welfare Partnership on upcoming grants which will be available to producers to invest in laying hen infrastructure.

Theatre partner ABN will be looking at how reduced carbon emissions can lead to greater efficiencies and profitability. Precision feeding and finding sustainable soya replacements will be a key part of this – and lifecycle feed analysis will enable farmers to determine their feed carbon footprint, said Danny Johnson at ABN. “This enables them to benchmark where they are currently, before working together to explore alternatives to reduce their carbon footprint and improve their bottom line.”

The British Pig & Poultry Fair takes place on 15-16 May at a new venue – the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. To find out more and register for your FREE ticket visit www.pigandpoultry.org.uk