The main themes the more than 400 delegates from 40 countries were confronted with were sustainability, animal welfare, feeding the world and markets of the future.
Consumer demands and how the egg industry can or will react in the light of animal welfare laws and a quickly changing competitive environment where eggs have to fight for the right position in the food sector of retail. This gets even more important when the importance of
"Functional Food" for the future is considered.
The EU cage law forbids conventional cages by 1.1.2012 and it was discussed widely that not all countries will achieve the change into at least enriched cages (possibly with Nr. 4 instead of 3) in time thereby endangering the current free trade of eggs in the EU.
Global Trends for the Egg sector were discussed with the introduction of the valuable "Atlas of the European Egg Industry" and statements for an imminent industrial and economical move of importance towards Asia and Latin America.
The speaker form World Wildlife Fund (WWF) pointed out that in coming years doubling of food production will have to happen with dramatically reduced resources... food will have to be perfected and food management especially in third world countries quickly improved. To feed a fast growing world population healthy egg protein can and will be an important and affordable contributor.
Ovotherm helped to ensure the truly international character of the conference by proudly sponsoring simultaneous translation into Spanish, Czech, French and German. The Ovotherm "Egg Display" was always well-frequented by international visitors who were especially interested in the completely new Vision line made from R- PET. For Mr. Franz Hofer (CEO) and the team of Ovotherm it was a good opportunity to meet new and "old" friends from Scotland, Mexico, Thailand, Mauritius and many more countries.