The European broiler production sector is challenged to balance animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and affordable meat prices. Although strategies such as circular feed ingredients, coccidiostat-free diets, and alternative management practices are promising, their trade-offs for animal health, performance, environmental impact, and economic viability are not yet fully evaluated.
The PPP “Pecking the Future’’ aims to evaluate these strategies and their trade-offs by focusing on four key areas:
* Animal health, welfare and behaviour
* Performance
* Environment
* Economics
Within the circular feed framework, the project will explore the use of insects and insect-based products to support a circular economy, focusing on valorising circular ingredients that are unsuitable for direct use in livestock feed and study their effects when fed to broilers.
In addition to classical animal-based measurements, advanced technologies, such as cameras, sound monitoring, and artificial intelligence, will be used to objectively assess broiler behaviour and welfare.
The goal: In the final phase, best practices will be integrated providing a practical decision-making tool for the industry, enabling stakeholders to make informed choices towards a sustainable and future-proof broiler production system.
Start project: 01/01/2025
End of project: 01/01/2029
Partners
Vilomix B.V.
Utrecht University
Sound Talks
NGN
Regardia
Hipra
Gebrs. Fuite B.V.
IRTA Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology
InnovaBiotics
Coren
Duynie
APC
Aeres University of Applied Sciences
DSM Firmenich
Agrivis
MixScience
Poultry Expertise Centre
Wageningen University & Research
Schothorst Feed Research B.V.
Novonesis