Vietnam is witnessing a significant shift towards cage-free egg production, driven by a partnership between Global Food Partners and Nguyen Gia Livestock Production Cooperative, one of North Vietnam’s largest egg producers. This collaboration aims to transition the Cooperative’s 50,000 hens to 100% certified cage-free production systems by 2025.
The move towards cage-free egg production is part of a broader trend in Vietnam, where there is growing demand for responsibly-sourced eggs. This demand is fueled by food and hospitality businesses across the region that have committed to sourcing cage-free eggs by 2025. The partnership between Global Food Partners and Nguyen Gia Livestock Production Cooperative is a significant step in meeting this demand and supporting local producers in their transition to cage-free systems.
At a signing ceremony held on December 8, 2024, in Hung Yen Province, stakeholders from across the food industry, local producers, and community leaders gathered to celebrate the partnership. The collaboration offers two solutions for food businesses looking to achieve their cage-free commitments: direct cage-free sourcing and the Impact Incentives programme. Companies can purchase certified, physical cage-free eggs directly from Nguyen Gia Livestock Production Cooperative or buy Impact Incentives, which are cage-free credits that support the Cooperative’s cage-free production and transition.
The Impact Incentives programme, described as the world’s first egg credit trading scheme, provides a flexible and cost-effective solution to sourcing challenges while driving sustainable change. By purchasing these credits, food companies can offset gaps in their supply chains, ensuring their cage-free commitments are met by December 2025. For producers like Nguyen Gia Livestock Production Cooperative, Impact Incentives generate a premium income that funds the transition to cage-free systems, covers ongoing costs, and supports further expansion.
Elissa Lane, CEO of Global Food Partners, emphasized the importance of the Impact Incentives programme in driving the transition from caged to cage-free production. She highlighted how the partnership with Nguyen Gia Livestock Production Cooperative demonstrates that local producers can achieve profitable, high-welfare, cage-free systems and support the transition to cage-free supply chains in Vietnam.
As part of the partnership, Global Food Partners’ Science and Extension team will provide technical training and guidance to Nguyen Gia Livestock Production Cooperative. This support will enable the Cooperative to adopt high-welfare farming practices, retrofit existing facilities, implement effective cage-free management, and achieve international welfare certification.
Overall, the movement towards cage-free egg production in Vietnam represents a significant step towards more sustainable and humane farming practices. It also highlights the growing consumer demand for responsibly-sourced products and the willingness of local producers to meet this demand through innovative solutions and partnerships.
Sources: Available upon request.