EGG PRODUCERS WORKSHOP IN SOUTH AFRICA
BACKGROUND
The Animal Welfare League, aiming to inform egg producers about best practices in animal welfare and establishing a go-to resource for cage-free egg sourcing across Africa, held its 6th Cage-Free Project Workshop in South Africa. This marked a significant milestone as the first time the workshop was hosted outside Ghana, reflecting AWL’s expanding commitment to improving farm animal welfare across Africa.
This fully packed workshop took place at the Cape Town Lodge Hotel in Cape Town on 14th April, 2025 bringing together poultry farmers, Supply and retail operations experts, researchers and other relevant stakeholders.
The poultry industry in South Africa significantly contributes to the nation's gross domestic product (GDP). As of 2022, poultry production accounted for 20.9 percent of overall agricultural gross value and 43 percent of total animal output (SAPA, 2023) making it the fourth-largest animal protein sector, with a gross agricultural value of approximately R14.5 billion and retail values approaching R26 billion (SAPA,2023). In 2023, South Africa had an estimated 27 million layer hens, producing about 7.8 billion eggs annually (SAPA, 2023). This made South Africa the 24th largest egg producer globally, contributing roughly 0.69% to the world’s total egg production.
The use of conventional cage systems in South Africa has increased significantly, rising from 74% in 2017/18 to a troubling 95% in 2023 (Nkukwana, 2018; SAPA, 2023). Despite this rise, there are signs of consumer-driven change, as a growing segment of the market is showing preference for ethically and environmentally responsible products.
A group shot including some of the egg producers and the AWL team.
WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTS
Guest speakers at the workshop included:
Professor Esté van Marle-Köster, Head of Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences at the University of Pretoria, South Africa and a leading animal scientist known for her work in livestock genetics and her advocacy for sustainable, welfare-focused animal production, who chaired the event.
She delivered an in-depth presentation on minimum poultry welfare standards, covering topics such as the historical context of poultry welfare, modern layer welfare, and the importance of support for these standards among South African producers.
Doctor Matthys Uys, a veterinary scientist specializing in poultry health and production. He serves as the Research Chair in Poultry Health and Production at the University of Pretoria's Department of Production Animal Studies.
In his presentation, he shared the experience of Woolworths一 a premium retail chain offering food, fashion, and home goods across Southern Africa, expounding on relationship between retailers and producers, highlighting how such partnerships can empower cage-free farmers.
Mr. Erno van der Westhuizen, Technical Farming Manager at Melsetter Foods (Pty) Ltd. He delivered a detailed and practical presentation focused on strategies for maximizing productivity as a cage-free egg producer.
He emphasized the successful approaches and operational insights necessary for cage-free producers to effectively supply large corporations. He highlighted the critical role producers play in facilitating company sourcing transitions toward cage-free eggs, addressing both the challenges and solutions in meeting corporate welfare commitments and consumer demand for ethically produced eggs.
Welcome and Keynote Address by the AWL's corporate campaigns lead
In his welcome address, Dr Jacob Ayang, corporate campaigns lead of the Animal Welfare League (AWL) introduced AWL and its relevance to the egg industry. He explained that AWL focuses on improving farm animal welfare across Africa, with current operations based in Ghana and plans to support advocacy initiatives in South Africa, Egypt, Morocco and other African countries.
He noted that the Animal Welfare League’s work includes direct engagement and support for producers and companies that are moving toward higher welfare standards.
We aim to support egg producers with practical tools and guidance to align with global animal welfare trends
Dr. Ayang stated, highlighting the organization’s commitment to creating value for both producers and consumers through humane practices.
Following the opening, Dr. Ayang delivered his keynote address, focusing on the importance of cage-free systems and the specific ways in which the Animal Welfare League is contributing to this transition in South Africa.
Dr Ayang outlined AWL’s approach to supporting producers and companies in making the transition away from conventional cage systems.
Our work in South Africa includes producer engagement through our Cage-Free Directory, supporting farm certifications and training for producers
he said.
He stressed that the shift to cage-free systems is not only a global movement but also increasingly relevant for local markets.
We’re working directly with farms to ensure they meet the standards expected by both certification bodies and consumers
he added.
Dr. Ayang also highlighted the role of the corporate sector in driving change.
Our team also supports food and hospitality companies looking to transition to cage-free to fulfill their commitments
he explained, pointing to the growing number of companies with public cage-free pledges.
He framed the transition of producers to cage-free as a practical and achievable step for the industry.
With the right support, producers can make the switch in a way that is both sustainable and aligned with market expectations
he said.
He acknowledged that questions around cost, infrastructure, and scalability still exist, but emphasized the need for proactive planning and access to resources.
It’s about building a roadmap that works for producers
he noted.
Dr. Ayang closed his address by encouraging continued collaboration across the value chain.
Whether you’re a producer, retailer, or consumer, everyone has a role in supporting better welfare standards
he said.
CERTIFICATION AND SIGNING OF MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU)
The Animal Welfare League (AWL) team, led by the Corporate Campaigns Lead Dr. Ayang, introduced farmers to the process of certifying cage-free farms under the Certified Humane program. In a significant show of support for higher animal welfare standards, AWL pledged to fully sponsor the certification process for five cage-free egg producers whose farms meet the required minimum welfare standards.
Certified Humane is a globally recognized certification program under Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC), a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of farm animals through credible, science-based standards. Their certification ensures that animals are raised with proper space, shelter, and the ability to engage in natural behaviors.
Animal Welfare League’s offer to fund certification aligns with its ongoing efforts to promote more humane egg production practices in South Africa and beyond. By helping local farmers meet and demonstrate these standards, AWL is actively empowering producers to access ethically-conscious markets and encouraging industry-wide change toward cage-free systems.
CAGE-FREE DIRECTORY
Farmers were introduced to the Animal Welfare League’s Cage-Free Directory, a network established to register egg producers who are committed to cage-free production systems and whose farming practices and conditions fully comply with the Animal Welfare League’s minimum animal welfare standards.
Following their introduction to the Cage-Free Directory, farmers were provided with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to confirm their consent to be listed in the directory. The MOU also included a section allowing farmers to indicate whether they wished to pursue the Certified Humane program for their farm.
Of the 9 egg producers who attended the workshop, 5 consented to sign up for the Cage-Free Directory.
The reported total number of layer hens in production currently committed to cage-free housing in Limpopo, Western Cape, Mpumalanga, and Gauteng consequently stands at a notable 14,800 hens with the highest producer managing a total number of 5000 hens.
NEXT STEPS
AWL South Africa Representative
The Animal Welfare League team, led by the South Africa representative, Timothy Chilemba, will conduct further farm visits to provide personalised support for farmers on the network and train suitable farms for the directory.
The 5 Farms that signed up for the humane certification program will be provided financial assistance by the Animal Welfare League to go through the entire certification process.
These farms will represent a commitment to animal welfare, set a higher standard in South Africa's poultry industry, and offer consumers a more humane and transparent choice in the market.
