Hubbard organises forum focussing on supply chain sustainability

About 150 attendees from 29 countries attended the event. Hubbard experts and external speakers shared with the audience, their experience with the Hubbard Premium breeds and gave insights into different types of slower growing chicken markets and management practices. In addition to the 'Social' component of sustainability, by using slower growing Premium chickens, the other two elements ('Economics' and 'Environmental footprint') were also addressed.

At the start, Jean Lebec, Hubbard sales manager France introduced the attendees to the current organisation and situation of the French broiler market before Bruno Briand, Hubbard global sales director explained the large Hubbard Premium product range serving a wide variety of markets covering dual purpose, label rouge, organic, 56-day free range and the more recent indoor systems such as Better Chicken Commitment (BCC). An update on the development of the BCC was then shared by Paul van Boekholt, Hubbard business manager Northern Europe.

James Bentley, Hubbard global technical director focused on the company’s experience with the use of alternative feed ingredients and optimised feed formulations for their large premium product range to support customers to reduce their carbon footprint. At the same time, he concluded that there is a big need for more specific research with slower growing chickens and to use a standardised model to compare the environmental footprint between production systems and countries. Research papers comparing the production costs between conventional broilers and ECC chickens in 6 countries were presented, along with results on the use of environmental enrichments and their benefits for premium chickens. 

Listening to the very positive reactions of all the attendees, the fourth Hubbard Premium Forum has been a great success. The next event will be held in 2025.

For more information, visit: https://www.hubbardbreeders.com/