Document type: article published on the CNPO website
Author: CNPO
Preview: Eggs are establishing themselves as a top consumer choice. They are the cheapest source of protein on the market and their in-store sales continue, making them an exception in the wider context of reduced consumption. In 2023, household egg purchases rose by 3%, an increase that is continuing in the current year. In the first 4 months of 2024, the pace of consumption even picked up, with home consumption up 5.2% on the same period last year. This enthusiasm allowed the industry to get back on its feet quickly following the blow of avian influenza. In 2023, production rose by 4%, restoring France's status as European champion in this regard, with almost 15 billion eggs laid over the year. However, despite the fact that ITAVI forecasts stable production for 2024, French egg professionals are still watchful over the market's degree of self-sufficiency. This dropped below 100% in 2022, and was recorded at 99.1% in 2023, opening the door to the threat of a flood of low-cost imports.
The industry has therefore taken the step of devising a new shared strategy, embracing every link in the supply chain, to ensure that egg production in France has a future. The French Egg Interprofessional Group - the CNPO - is launching its second industry plan. The plan is intended to build on the sector's progress in responding to consumer expectations, and to set new targets for 2030. In particular, the industry has decided to invest 300 million euros in the construction of 300 new hen production units to align its production capacity with demand in France. It calls for strong measures on the part of the authorities, particularly those that reduce the complexity of the formal paperwork required. The poultry industry will also continue its transition to alternative farming methods. With 73% of hens raised outside cages by the end of 2023, well above the first industry plan's target of 50% by 2022, the bar has now been raised even higher: 90% by 2030. The French egg industry has always been prepared to lead the way and act responsibly, and this new target confirms its commitment to animal welfare. France is also one of only two countries in the world to have adopted in-ovo sexing. It now urges the members of the new parliament to honor the commitments previously made by the French government, namely to take action to harmonize regulations at European level in order to avoid distortions of the level playing field between Member States.
Four strategic pathways for an ambitious plan
The professionals from every part of the industry's supply chain who make up the CNPO interprofessional group are committed to 4 firm pathways in their 2030 Industry Plan: to guarantee food sovereignty, to respond to societal challenges, to strengthen links between all those involved in the industry - from animal feed providers and farmers to distributors and end consumers - and to promote innovation to ensure that all industry members and consumers can adapt to the challenges of both today and tomorrow. The objectives set out in this new 2030 plan will thus enable the industry to continue its progress towards ensuring food sovereignty and providing quality products that respect animal welfare and the environment, while ensuring that all levels of the industry can make a living.
Les Œufs de France : une attente des consommateurs [...]Un condensé de qualités nutritionnelles accessibles
As the least expensive animal protein on the market, eggs are considered to be a staple product in an emergency by more than 7 out of 10 French people (71%). [...]
