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Westfalia Fruit expands its reach into three key Asian Markets
Westfalia Fruit, a global leader in the avocado industry, announced the celebration of a significant milestone by expanding its footprint into three major Asian markets: Japan, India, and China.
“This achievement speaks back to the company’s commitment to innovation and sustainability, positioning South African avocados as premium produce in high-potential regions,” they said in a release.
Westfalia highlighted the recent agreement between South Africa and Japan, which they say paves the way for exports of South African avocados to the East Asian nation. This visit encouraged stronger economic relations, which resulted in Japan receiving its first consignment of South African avocados. The shipment marks a new chapter in trade relations between the two countries.
Westfalia also expressed it’s gratitude to the government for facilitating the opening of critical markets.
“This support not only benefits the company but strengthens South Africa’s agricultural export potential, helping Westfalia bring its premium produce to markets efficiently and securely,” they said.
The successful entry into Japan follows the recent lifting of the ban on Hass avocados, a significant development for South African exporters. The agreed-upon protocol requires cold treatment of 2°C for 19 days.
This agreement further solidifies the growing economic relationship between Japan and South Africa, built on mutual trust and robust people-to-people connections.
Earlier this year, Westfalia Fruit achieved another groundbreaking moment by sending its first shipment of avocados to India, a large and rapidly expanding fruit market.
The finalization of a phytosanitary agreement between South Africa and India marked the culmination of many years of dedicated work to access this lucrative market.
Westfalia said India presents a substantial opportunity for South African avocado growers, especially during the May to August period, when South American producers typically dominate the market with large volumes of avocados.
With this new access, South African exporters can now offer a competitive alternative, supplying large-sized avocados to Indian consumers during a key window.
In addition to its entry into Japan and India, Westfalia Fruit expanded its presence in the Chinese market last year, further enhancing its export portfolio. As a global leader in the avocado sector for decades, Westfalia has established itself as a trusted supplier of high-quality produce in China, offering not only avocados but a range of fruits.
The company said its “extensive knowledge of the Chinese market and its operational capabilities in the region enable it to deliver exceptional service to its growers while ensuring the creation of high-quality supply chains.”
Graham Young, COO of Westfalia Fruit, expressed enthusiasm for the growing opportunities in Asia, stating, “The expansion into these diverse Asian markets represents significant growth potential for the South African avocado industry. We are not only introducing our sustainably grown, premium-quality avocados to new consumers but also creating lasting economic opportunities for our growers.”
Young further highlighted that these market openings present Westfalia with the chance to showcase the unique flavor profiles and exceptional quality of South African avocados.
“Our commitment to innovation and sustainability drives us to deliver the best possible produce to our customers, and we are thrilled to bring our avocados to Asia’s dynamic markets,” he added.
The foundation for this market expansion is a testament to the growing collaboration between public and private sector stakeholders. These new markets offer exciting export opportunities while building relationships that could benefit the broader agricultural sector through knowledge exchange and innovation.
“The South African avocado industry is now positioned at a unique juncture, with new and growing markets set to shape the future trajectory of the industry,” Young concluded.
Busy first day at Asia Fruit Logistica in Hong Kong
Today, September 4, marked the first exhibition day of Asia Fruit Logistica in Hong Kong. More than 600 exhibitors from 38 different countries are coming together this week to showcase a wide array of fruit and vegetable products. It was a good and busy start to the show with China standing out as the largest exhibiting country and the number of Chinese exhibitors increased with 12 percent compared to last year. Despite an increase in exhibitors from China, the country’s economic downturn is being felt by countries around the world exporting to China. In addition to the economic downturn, many countries are still waiting to get protocols to export to China, further complicating exports.
Other Asian markets seem to be doing well. For India, exporting grapes to Europe has been challenging due to the Red Sea situation, but the country has found a good alternative in Russia. With less grapes making their way over to Russia from other countries, it was a good market for India. Some Italian apple and pear exporters said demand from China and Asia as a whole is good, but the Red Sea challenges prevent them from sending fruit.
Exporters from Latin America continue to see opportunities to expand in Asia. For the Asian market, quality and appearance of the products are key, including size, shape, color, and flavor. Certifications on the other hand, as required in Europe and the U.S., are less important.
Vaihav Vedak, Country Manager India for Salix Fruits.
The Aartsen mascot is entertaining visitors at the stand.
Alejandra Sandoval and Vladimir Kocerha of Clavet Peru.
Tasting is key
On display at the show were lots of exotic fruit and vegetable items. For the Asian market, it is very important potential buyers get to taste the different products. As a result, most companies brought samples, and exhibitors were busy getting the displays in their booths ready and making sure their products appealed to the audience.
Apart from exotic produce items on display, this year’s exhibition also stands out for the presence of companies specializing in seeds, variety research and development, breeding technology, and nursery cultivation. Many exhibitors are showcasing their cutting-edge innovations in the fruit and vegetable seed industry.
Different exotic produce items on display.
All in all, exhibitors from China as well as other countries reported a strong start of the trade show with considerable interest for their products from across Asia. Several companies said they were satisfied with potential customer leads and new orders they had already received.
St. Ewe Free Range Eggs announces foodservice packaging updates
Fondly known as ‘the chef’s favourite eggs’, St. Ewe Free Range Eggs said it continues to select only the finest free-range medium eggs for culinary professionals.
Alongside changes to the packaging, St. Ewe Medium Egg has shifted its name to St. Ewe Signature and St. Ewe Rich Yolk moves from ‘mixed weight’ to a guaranteed ‘medium’ size of eggs following chef feedback.
With these added touches, St. Ewe said it guarantees that only the best of the best make it to professional kitchens.
‘Signature’ has been adopted for these eggs, in a nod to the journey for St. Ewe Free Range Eggs founder, Rebecca Tonks – anchoring the quality of their British-Free Range Medium Eggs.
The updated St. Ewe Signature Egg brand will be arriving in foodservice depots from mid September.
Following the launch of its mixed-weight Rich Yolk eggs, feedback found that egg size consistency was the most sought after requirement.
St. Ewe Free Range Eggs now offers their multi-award winning eggs as a medium size guaranteed.
St. Ewe Free Range Eggs adopts colours that not just match aesthetics but reflect the premium quality and care that goes into producing some of the best eggs available in retail stores and in foodservice. T
he easily recognisable boxes not only make handling and storage efficient, they offer a visual testament to the quality found within the product.
As a nod to St.Ewe Free Range Eggs work with the industry’s top accreditors, the brand has incorporated its accolades on pack, both front and back highlighting their partnerships and accolades with the Craft Guild of Chefs and Roux Scholarship.
Coffee News Club: Week of September 3rd
Does your morning coffee glow? It might be microplastics. Plus, someone in New Mexico really doesn’t like Starbucks, and big companies are expanding their coffee buying beyond Brazil and Vietnam.
‘The World’s Coffee Mostly Comes From Two Countries. That’s a Problem’ – via Bloomberg
Nearly half of all coffee grown worldwide comes from either Brazil or Vietnam and when bad weather hits both countries simultaneously—which happened this year—coffee prices skyrocket. Due partially to unpredictable weather patterns, robusta futures reached their highest peak since the 1970s, while arabica prices increased 30% in 2024.
As the impact of climate change worsens, relying on just two countries to produce more than half the world’s coffee is risky. Many coffee multinationals are turning to smaller producing countries to hedge their bets, according to Ilena Peng and Tarso Veloso reporting for Bloomberg.
Starbucks is financing loans to producers in Rwanda, Peru, and Tanzania; green trader Volcafe raised $60 million to expand its operations in East Africa; and Nespresso and Lavazza have programs to revive production in countries where coffee farming once thrived but has since declined like Cuba, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, and more. Illy, meanwhile, has restarted purchasing coffee from African countries from where it used to source, as well as “expanding procurement from current suppliers outside Brazil and Vietnam.”
“There is an urgency now, because this year proves that the impact of climate change cannot be underestimated,” Andrea Illy, CEO of Illycaffe, told Bloomberg. “It is starting to change the market itself.”
Although specialty coffee drinkers have likely had coffees from many of the countries listed above, larger brands tend to source most of their coffee catalogs from Brazil and Vietnam. Big brands might also feel the pressure to compete with specialty coffee: According to the National Coffee Association, almost half of all American adults now drink specialty coffee daily.
The shift away from Brazil and Vietnam benefits producers in countries like Honduras, many of whom have increased their production to meet demand. However, despite the boom, Bloomberg reports that farmers in Honduras are dealing with higher production costs and lower profit margins.
In other countries, price increases have led farmers to focus on specialty “because it is deemed much more profitable to the farmers in general,” said Praewa Boonyawan, a coffee producer in Thailand. “There is certainly a higher demand on the consumer side.”
‘The Coffee Farmer Thriving Index Says ‘Listen to the Farmers” – via Daily Coffee News
Farmers in Rwanda and Uganda are struggling, according to a report from the social impact assessment company 60 Decibels.
In partnership with the Irish nonprofit Small Foundation, 60 Decibels conducted phone interviews with thousands of coffee producers in Uganda and Rwanda to produce the Coffee Farmer Thriving Index. This new report, the company says, offers a “standardized and holistic measure of farmer wellbeing.”
More than a third of the Ugandan producers reported they made no profit the previous year, while 21% lost money. The report states that farmers “are vulnerable to market fluctuations and climate conditions, which makes harvest seasons unpredictable.”
Other key takeaways include:
- Nearly a third of Ugandan coffee farmers are “food stressed,” which the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification defines as “households have minimally adequate food consumption but are unable to afford some essential non-food expenditures.”
- Forty-six percent of Ugandan farmers reported they couldn’t save any money in the past year, saying they would find it challenging to get emergency funds.
- Just 19% of respondents had reliable access to agricultural extension services like education or training programs and reported having even lower access to other essential services like credit (11%) and insurance (2%). Farmers associated with a cooperative had more access to such services than independent farmers.
The report’s authors note that even within one country like Uganda, farmers have myriad different experiences and circumstances, and any conclusions or recommendations must be seen with that context in mind. “Therefore, we have no universal recommendation to improve farmer wellbeing beyond this: listen to the farmers. They know if they are thriving or barely surviving, and they know what they need.”
‘Starbucks to Charbucks: Taos Chafes at Coffee Chain’ – via Reuters
When residents wish to object to a new corporate development in their small town, they have a few choices: organize a petition, threaten a boycott, or protest. Or, for one (or many) anonymous residents of Taos, New Mexico, there seems to be another option: arson.
A development site for a new Starbucks in the New Mexico town has been attacked twice, with both incidents determined to be arson, or intentionally setting a fire. The events led locals to nickname the project “Charbucks.”
The development would be the first drive-thru Starbucks in Taos, a mountain town with a history of militant opposition to corporate chains. As Andrew Hay reported for Reuters: “From the 1680 Indigenous Pueblo Revolt against Spanish settlement, to the 1847 Taos Revolt against U.S. occupation and more recently an arson attack on a development tycoon and opposition to a billionaire’s ski resort development, Taos locals have resisted outside forces.”
The town, known for its art and ski scenes and the Taos Pueblo UNESCO World Heritage Site, has experienced an influx of remote workers since 2020, widening the area’s social inequalities. The Taos town council supported the new development because it would bring jobs and tax revenue.
However, opening a new Starbucks wouldn’t help solve a critical housing issue, said coffee shop owner Andrea Mayer. “People are showing up saying ‘I’d love to work here, I can’t afford to live here,’” Meyer said.
Police told Reuters they believed they knew the culprit (or culprits) but lacked the evidence needed to make an arrest.
Locals believe the attacks are rooted in trying to deter the brand from building a new location but are divided on the extreme tactic. “We don’t know who did it, but we loved it,” Todd Lazar, a holistic healer, told Reuters. Others, like Pablo Flores, who owns a specialty coffee roaster in town, are more circumspect. “Taos is changing and if you don’t like the way it’s changing, do not support that business,” he said. However, “Don’t burn it down, that’s not cool.”
More News
‘Coffee Traders Rush to Ship Beans Ahead of EU Deforestation Law‘ – via Bloomberg
‘Colorado Specialty Coffee Company Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy‘ – via Daily Coffee News
‘City Recycles More Than 2.3 Million Coffee Pods’ – via BBC News
‘Soaring Coffee Prices Force Roasters to Add Lower-cost Beans to Blends’ – via Financial Times
‘New ICE Platform to Trace Cocoa, Coffee Deforestation From Space‘ – via Bloomberg
‘Attention All Roasters, Read the Business of Roasting Report’ – via Daily Coffee News
‘Ethiopia Faces Market Losses Due to Ban on Coffee Exports to Producing Countries’ – via Capital
‘Coffee Growers Association Campaigns to Protect Authenticity of the Cerrado Mineiro Origin‘ – via Tea & Coffee Trade Journal
Is Coffee Good For You?
In past issues of the newsletter, we told you there could be microplastics in your coffee, leaching out from disposable coffee cups. A study from 2022 found that drinking a single cup of to-go coffee every week could cause you to consume 90,000 microplastic particles every year.
Microplastics testing equipment is usually expensive and cumbersome, but researchers at the University of British Columbia have built a portable, affordable device to let you check what’s in your morning coffee, according to Darryl Greer for the Toronto Star.
The 3D-printed device allows users to test liquid samples: any microplastics will glow! The device also will run an algorithm to analyze and calculate the number of microplastics in the sample. Results are then sent to a smartphone.
According to creator Tianxi Yang, an assistant professor in the faculty of land and food systems, the goal is to raise awareness of microplastics in their everyday life. “I think the micro and nanoplastics detection is very meaningful because it allows people to realize how much micro and nanoplastics they’re being exposed to, even though they may not notice,” Yang told the Toronto Star.
The dangers of microplastics to human health are still being researched, and scientists are wary of linking them to specific diseases. However, microplastics have been shown to damage human cells, can breach the blood-brain barrier, and have been found in our arteries and our lungs.
Beyond the Headlines
‘The Pesticides Underpinning Coffee’s Healthy Image’ by Fionn Pooler
‘It’s Time to Start Talking About Human Resources in Coffee’ by Eric Grimm
First e-truck charging station opens at Port of Hamburg
E.ON has launched its first dedicated charging site for electric trucks in Germany, located on the grounds of the port of Hamburg along the A7 motorway.
This site features four charging stations, each equipped with a 400-kilowatt charger, allowing trucks to recharge during the mandatory 45-minute break required by law.
“When it comes to truck charging stations, we pay special attention to the needs of drivers and transport companies. Our new charging station in Hamburg demonstrates this: convenient charging with enough space for different vehicle types, an easy-to-find location directly on the motorway and a charging capacity of up to 400 kilowatts per vehicle. This means that the break can be ideally used for quick intermediate charging,” stated Ludolf von Maltzan, Business Manager Germany at E.ON Drive Infrastructure.
Depending on the truck model, this charging time provides enough energy for approximately 300 kilometres of driving.
The charging stations are designed with future upgrades in mind, allowing for the installation of megawatt charging technology, which will enable even faster charging times.
The spacious parking and charging bays, measuring three meters wide and 25 meters long, are suitable for articulated lorries, eliminating the need to uncouple trailers or semi-trailers.
Drivers can initiate and pay for the charging process using a charging card, app, or credit card terminal for ad hoc charging.
In addition to these new stations at the Port of Hamburg, E.ON Drive Infrastructure also operates dedicated e-truck charging stations in Sweden and Denmark, with further sites planned in Germany and across Europe.
MSC secondhand splurge nears 400 ships in four years
Gianluigi Aponte’s Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) has continued to cement itself at the top of liner rankings with additional secondhand tonnage that take the Swiss-based carrier’s purchases in the last four years to nearly 400 ships.
The liner giant has been tied to a double buy from German owners, boosting its 4-year shopping spree of secondhand boxships to a “mind-blowing” 383 units.
Alphaliner, which forecast that MSC’s market share will be equal to Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd’s combined come the launch of the Gemini Cooperation early next year, said the company had picked up the 2006-built 1,440 teu Cape Flint from Germany’s Schoeller Group and the 1999-built 2,526 teu Jan Ritscher from fellow owner Reederei Gerd Ritscher.
No price tag has been revealed for the duo that is expected to be renamed MSC Manasvi II and MSC Shivalika III, respectively, but the online pricing platform VesselsValue estimates their combined worth at just over $25m.
MSC has had a busy year snapping up a raft of mid-sized secondhand vessels, but it has also made moves in the newbuilding market. Splash reported last month on how MSC has been in touch with lesser known yards in China for its next series of newbuilds, while in July the company picked up two 14,000 teu boxships under construction at Jiangnan Shipyard from BAL Container Line in a deal worth more than $330m in total.
The Soren Toft-led MSC has a fleet in excess of 6m teu, commanding a 20% share of the global operated container fleet. The company’s massive orderbook currently stands at about 130 ships, which according to Alphaliner figures is projected to boost the fleet by an additional 1.8m slots in the coming years.
In related MSC news, the Hamburg Parliament is set to make a final decision on the company’s controversial investment the port logistics company HHLA. The deal was originally supposed to be approved before the summer recess but was postponed to September 4 due to an objection from the opposition. Industry sources suggest the red-green coalition will likely push the deal through in the second and final reading with its two-thirds majority.
State-of-the-art techniques to reduce climate-warming cow methane
4 September 2024
6 minute read
New climate-controlled animal respiration stalls in the Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences – the only ones currently operating in the US – will allow researchers to definitively measure, verify and monitor methane and other gas emissions from cows. This information will support a slate of investigations aimed at improving the sustainability and productivity of farms around the world.
The stalls or “chambers” are similar to large barn stalls that house cows, but are fully contained as a single unit with climate control to support the health and welfare of the animal.
Four Cornell University Animal Respiration Chambers supported by Cargill, Genesee Valley Regional Market Authority, and Balchem Corporation were unveiled at a ribbon-cutting event in April 2024 at the Large Animal Research and Teaching Unit where the chambers are housed.
Other funders for the $2 million animal respiration chambers include the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets; Cornell CALS and the Department of Animal Science leadership; and the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability.
The opening marks an important step toward developing solutions for reducing methane – a potent greenhouse gas – emitted from cows. Roughly 40% of all global anthropogenic methane emissions come from livestock agriculture, mostly from cow burps.
“The respiration chambers are considered to be the gold standard to monitor methane emissions from cows,” said Joseph McFadden, associate professor of dairy cattle biology in the Department of Animal Science (CALS). McFadden has spearheaded Cornell’s efforts to acquire the chambers and conduct livestock methane mitigation research.
“There are a lot of untested methane mitigation and monitoring technologies out there,” he said, “but the only way you can provide absolute quantification of gas emissions is by using a respiration chamber system.”
The animal respiration chambers are stainless steel with large doors and windows, designed to ensure the safety, nutrition and comfort of the animal while methane is being measured. They are large enough to hold a cow, or any other livestock animal. They are climate-controlled and they monitor oxygen consumption and methane, CO2 and hydrogen emissions in real time, taking measurements every 2 to 10 minutes. Researchers may put individual cows in a chamber in order to get an absolute measure of gases consumed and produced.
Measurements of gas exchange are key to understanding overall energy use – or energetics – in cows. For example, cows lose on average between 6% to 7% of the energy they consume to methane gas produced during digestion of carbohydrates. In order to get a balanced accounting of a cow’s energetics, researchers must estimate heat loss, which can’t be directly measured. They do that in large part by measuring the amount of energy from food that is used up by gases, digestion, urine and feces, metabolism, tissue and milk. They can apply this data to indirectly calculate heat loss.
By balancing the energy equation, researchers can then consider how effectively different diets and feed additives may optimize meat and milk production and animal health, and minimize greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient waste.
The chambers will also be used to improve Cornell’s nutritional modeling software, called the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS). The model is used to formulate diets for approximately 70% of lactating cows in North America, and has been adopted in more than 40 countries. The model allows a nutritionist or farmer to input feed ingredients to formulate a diet specific to the cows, feeds, and conditions, and the program will accurately predict milk yield.
Michael Van Amburgh, professor of animal science who has led development of CNCPS, initially applied foundational data to understand cow energetics acquired through animal respiration chambers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Center in Beltsville, Maryland, from the 1960s to the ’80s. Researchers now understand much more about cows’ amino acid and fatty acid requirements, Van Amburgh said. Also, today’s cows are bred with genetics to improve the efficiency of converting nutrients into milk and meat.
While these advancements may not affect milk volume per se, the cows do make more milk fat and protein depending on diet, which the old data doesn’t capture.
“These chambers can be invaluable because they will allow us to refine all of these energetics calculations that were done 60 and 70 years ago in cows that were very different than the modern cow and under conditions where we knew much less about specific nutrient requirements,” Van Amburgh said.
McFadden has been leading an effort to understand how feed additives may inhibit methane production in cows. He and colleagues are investigating whether seaweed or its active ingredient, bromoform, could safely limit emissions. In 2020, an Australian research group found that adding a native seaweed to a cow’s diet decreased methane emissions by 80%.
While promising, more work is needed to understand where that energy is redirected in the cow, which can then affect modeling of nutrient use, McFadden said. He is principal investigator of a $1.5 million grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture to investigate interactions between dietary fatty acids, seaweed and bromoform on enteric and manure methane emissions and energetic conversion in lactating dairy cows.
Kristan Reed, assistant professor of animal science (CALS), also focuses on how diet and supplements impact methane and other greenhouse gas emissions. She integrates the results of dietary intervention within a whole farm context, which include downstream emissions from manure management and crop production.
“Being able to connect the manure composition to dietary interventions for enteric methane will allow us to better estimate emissions during manure storage,” she said. The chambers also have the capacity for adding sensors to detect ammonia released from manure.
Researchers would like to understand enteric methane emissions as they apply to an entire herd. Julio Giordano, associate professor of animal science (CALS), director of the Cornell Agricultural Systems Testbed and Demonstration Site (CAST) for the Farm of the Future, director of the Dairy Cattle Biology and Management Laboratory and an associate director of the Cornell Institute for Digital Agriculture (CIDA), has been developing and implementing data-driven technologies, precision tech and innovations that allow farmers to automate or semi-automate management tasks in order to create the farm of the future. A big piece of his research has been to advance wearable sensors on cows that directly measure biometrics.
“One of the uses of the chambers will be to validate measurements from sensors that are currently under development,” he said.
Giordano and colleagues are in early discussions with an industry partner to develop a ruminal bolus, a sensor implanted in the cow’s rumen, where methane is produced.
“That would be the ideal tool to have in the future, to monitor individual cows,” he said. “One of the limitations of estimating methane production at the farm level and the potential benefits of mitigation strategies is that we do not know how much methane is being produced by individual cows.”
Along with validating sensors under development, the animal respiration chambers can measure absolute emissions for a few individuals, and that data can be extrapolated to herd level.
Developing individual sensors will also be important for greenhouse gas accounting on farms as carbon credit markets emerge, where measuring enteric emissions of methane will be key.
Aviagen Group’s Decades of Breeding for Welfare & Sustainability
Learn about Aviagen Group’s core principles of breeding
4 September 2024
3 minute read
Editor’s note: This article is an excerpt from the Aviagen Group’s Decades of Breeding for Welfare & Sustainability Report and additional articles will follow. The Report is designed to demonstrate Aviagen’s commitment to genetic improvement of welfare and sustainability of broiler and turkey breeds. Plus, it covers much more like techniques to ensure robustness and new methods to improve selection and genetic progress. To read or download the complete report, click here.
Overview of Breeding
Aviagen has the responsibility of managing the world’s major broiler and turkey breeding programs. The breeding decisions are important for determining the characteristics of the breeds used by today’s farmers. Operating for over 60 years, these programs have a long history of developing and selecting for a diverse range of welfare and sustainability traits.
Aviagen operates multiple breeding programs for each species. These programs are the start of the supply chain for poultry producers worldwide. Each program consists of multiple lines of pedigree birds measured under controlled conditions to replicate the growing and reproduction life stages used in poultry production.
The breeding goal is developed by translating requirements from industry and societal stakeholders into measurable traits on individual birds. Pedigree lines are selected for a broad range of traits and offspring are multiplied and crossed over several generations. The balance of selection traits in each line differs depending on the intended use of the final cross.
From pedigree selection through to the final generation grown by farmers takes around 4 years. It is evident that breeding companies therefore need to carefully anticipate the direction of stakeholder requirements in order to satisfy future requirements.
Figure 1 shows the pedigree section of the breeding program, where the selection takes place, and the multiplication generations.
Whilst consumer preferences are evolving to an increasing awareness of welfare and sustainability of food production, arguably, long-term breeding targets for improving economic efficiency are closely aligned to these goals. For many years, Aviagen has focused on minimizing inputs of feed, water, litter and antibiotics and maximizing meat produced through a balance of welfare, weight, yield, and better livability.
This paper will demonstrate the decades long commitment of Aviagen to the genetic improvement of welfare and sustainability of broiler and turkey breeds.
It will also cover the techniques used to ensure robustness and optimal welfare under a wide range of production conditions, as well as new methods to improve the accuracy of our selection and further drive genetic progress for better welfare and sustainability outcomes.
Core Principles of Breeding
Within our breeding programs, we record large amounts of data on each bird; for example, bodyweight, feed conversion efficiency (FCR), physical leg assessment and gait score. We combine these carefully recorded measures with the birds’ pedigree (a record of how each individual is related to each other individual).
By combining physical measurements with family information, we can create a very clear picture of which birds and which families within our populations have the best genetic potential. These are the families that we breed so that those genes contribute to the next generation and drive the progress of the commercial bird. In each of our breeding programs, this family information is extensive; for example, our broiler pedigree goes back to 1979. The same principle applies to all other traits. In each of our breeding programs, this family information is extensive. Aviagen takes a balanced breeding approach to selecting its birds for many different traits at the same time. Many selection traits are correlated with each other (Figure 2). Selection of some traits may impact positively or negatively on the development of other traits.
A negative relationship – antagonism between traits – is regularly observed between production or environmental impact traits and health, welfare or reproduction traits. This means an improvement in one trait needs to be considered in the context of its effect on other traits.
Such antagonisms are handled, by simultaneously considering multiple traits in the breeding goal and selecting birds which have better than average breeding values than the population average. Amongst the many pedigree candidates there are always a few which are good at both traits in a certain antagonism – these birds are then selected.
Step by step then both traits will improve. This approach of balanced breeding has been used for many years in the broiler and turkey breeding programs at Aviagen.
Sustainable breeding requires a secure breeding program structure and a diverse range of genotypes to cater for current and future industry needs. The broiler and turkey breeding programs share similar, proven structural features for genetic security: high biosecurity facilities with replicated populations spread geographically and at different ages. As an illustration, Aviagen and Aviagen Turkeys each have pedigree operations based in the USA and UK. Within each location, there are various rearing and laying farms housing the pedigree lines.
In the breeding programs, the source of the genetic progress comes from a wide range of pedigree lines (Figure 3) with more than 30 in broilers and over 40 in turkeys (Defra, 2010).
A high selection pressure is applied for a broad range of traits. The individual lines, each with clearly defined selection objectives, are then combined to give parents and finally commercial birds. Aviagen’s diverse breed range consists of cross-bred birds, typically made up of four different types of pedigree lines. The diversity of lines gives a large range of opportunities to create novel crosses to satisfy future market needs.
The French bakeries winning over America
In recent years, French bakery products have experienced a significant rise in popularity across the US, driven by consumers’ increasing demand for artisanal food experiences. Among the brands capitalizing on this growing trend is Le Macaron French Pastries, which is making strategic moves to expand its presence in the US, including its recent franchise entry into Colorado.
A rising appetite for French delicacies
America’s affinity for French bakery can be attributed to several factors, including the growing appreciation for authentic and premium food offerings. French bakery items, known for their artisanal quality and meticulous craftsmanship, fit perfectly into this niche.
There is also a broader trend towards health-conscious eating. French bakery are typically made with natural ingredients following time-honored techniques, appealing to consumers looking for healthier alternatives to mass-produced goods. Items like croissants, éclairs and macarons have become staples in upscale bakeries and cafés across the country.
Le Macaron French Pastries
Founded in 2009 by Rosalie Guillem and her daughter Audrey Saba, Le Macaron has emerged as a key player in the US market. After leaving France and opening its first location in Sarasota, Florida, in 2012, the brand quickly gained popularity for its signature macarons.
The company’s focus on authenticity is a significant part of its success, following a traditional French recipe to deliver the same experience as one would have in a patisserie in France. This commitment to quality has helped build a loyal customer base and establish a strong presence in the competitive US bakery market.
Le Macaron’s business model combines the appeal of French luxury with a streamlined franchise approach, selecting partners who are as passionate and committed to maintaining the high standards set by the company. With a focus on expanding into regions where there is a clear demand for premium French products, Le Macaron today sports a network of 64 locations across the country, with another 11 under construction.
Targeting Colorado
Le Macaron recently signed on a new franchise partner in the Denver Area, Colorado. The state, with its diverse population and strong economy, offers a fertile ground for Le Macaron’s growth. The brand’s focus on authenticity is likely to resonate with local consumers, who are known for their love of artisanal and gourmet foods.
“As we continue to grow, we’re focusing on markets where consumers are driving demand for elevated desserts and experiences,” said Guillem.
“We believe Colorado has an ideal mix of communities and a vibrant, growing population. We’re looking forward to bringing Le Macaron to Colorado and building on the success we’ve seen in other regions across the country.”
With an emphasis on community engagement, Le Macaron aims to become a staple by offering residents a taste of France in their own backyard. Its elegant specialty retail café showcases French culture through an array of macarons, pastries, gelatos and coffees.
The business model is easy to follow and scalable, making it appealing to franchisees who also benefit from comprehensive training, support and resources for rapid growth and success. Simplified operations, including a centralized confectionary, ensure consistency and convenience, promoting a balanced work-life experience for franchisees.
“With over 60 locations, 15 years in operation and two million macarons made each year, our size and scale really showcase our success,” added Guillem.
“We are dedicated to providing our franchisees with comprehensive support and training to set them up for success. We look forward to finding more franchisees in Colorado and continuing to build the brand and the Le Macaron family.”
Business opportunities for US entrepreneurs
The success of Le Macaron French Pastries in the US highlights the growing opportunities in the bakery café segment.
According to IBISWorld, revenue in the Patisserie and Cake industry is expected to rise an annualized 2.2% to $5.4bn by 2029. The sector has benefited from growing consumer income, but has had to contend with falling sugar consumption as the health trend kicks in. To the industry’s benefit, consumers are not willing to forgo indulgence completely and are still willing to splurge on patisseries.
Bridor is a prestigious French bakery brand, known for combining traditional French baking techniques with high-quality ingredients. Its expansion into the US includes advanced production facilities and partnerships with distributors, making its products widely available to upscale restaurants, hotels and gourmet retailers. Bridor’s commitment to quality and innovation has fueled its popularity, reflecting a growing American appetite for authentic, artisanal baked goods.
As French culinary traditions gain traction in the US, Bridor stands out as a symbol of gourmet excellence. However, several others are also making their mark, including La Brea Bakery, known for its artisanal breads like baguettes and sourdough; Paris Baguette, which offers a blend of French and Asian pastries; Pain d’Avignon, specializing in handcrafted French breads; and Boulangerie by Gourmet Bakery that produces classic items like buttery croissants and delicate eclairs.
These brands showcase the rich tradition of French baking while adapting to American tastes, offering a delicious variety of options for bakery enthusiasts across the country.