Establishing GRSE has been one of IEC’s Chairman, Ben Dellaert’s significant contributions to date and provides an invaluable opportunity for leading figures from within the industry and its allied sectors to collaborate for the benefit of the whole production chain and beyond.

The conference in Kuala Lumpur brought together representatives from key strategic partners such as the World Wildlife Fund, which demonstrates the importanace that is attached to this issue. Having already set out the five foundations of GRSE at the last meeting, Kuala Lumpur provided the perfect platform to further define and shape the role of the group. The roundtable group debated what the content of the programme of work emerging from GRSE should be.

Ben explains the outcomes from KL: “Whilst we were attending the Global Leadership Conference, I was informed of a commonly used local saying ‘unity is strength’. These three words struck me as being so appropriate to our industry and the work that GRSE is doing. It’s a phrase that you’ll be hearing again as we look to extend the reach of our work. Already, we are seeing global organisations demonstrate their commitment to GRSE and it is perhaps a saying that we should all embrace.   

With the foundations in place, GRSE is now developing an objective criteria that can easily be assessed as we move forward. Together with our two scientists, Hongwei Xin and Ilias Kyriazakis, we are working on this in order to report to the group at the IEC Business Conference in Monte Carlo in April.  

It is important to remember that change is not going to happen overnight - we have to remain focused. Having partners such as WWF at the table gives me great hope for the future. We are off to a strong start – tackling what is perhaps, the greatest challenge that faces the food supply chain and the world’s population as a whole.”

GRSE’s long term goal is to achieve a production chain that is environmentally sound, socially responsible and economically sustainable, focusing on following areas:

 - Animal health
To drive for continuous improvements in bird health.

- Feed the world with safe, affordable high quality protein
To implement economically viable and sustainable production to deliver nutritional eggs to the world’s population.

- People and community
To connect a network of local, regional and global leaders to secure sustainable egg production for developing and developed countries.

 - Environment and natural resources
To be environmentally responsible throughout the value chain and safeguard resources for future generations.

- Efficiency and innovation
To identify scientific and technological advances and best working practices that deliver continuous improvements throughout the supply chain.