OWA AFRICA SUMMIT

From July 16th?to 19th, 2024, Machakos, Kenya, hosted the Open Wing Alliance Africa Summit, a significant event aimed at advancing animal welfare, specifically focusing on the cage-free movement across the continent. Utunzi Animal Welfare actively participated in the summit, contributing to vital discussions on the status, achievements, and future of cage-free policies in Africa.

The Open Wing Alliance Africa Summit brought together key stakeholders, including animal welfare organizations. The event served as a platform to review progress, address challenges, and set new goals for promoting cage-free environments for farm animals, particularly hens.

One of the central themes of the summit was evaluating the current status of cage-free initiatives across Africa. Historically, the continent has lagged in adopting cage-free systems compared to other regions. However, recent efforts have shown promise. Several African countries are beginning to implement cage-free practices, albeit at varying rates.

While some countries like South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana and Kenya have made notable strides, others are still in the nascent stages of adoption. The disparity in progress is often linked to economic factors, regulatory frameworks, and consumer demand.

The shift towards cage-free systems involves significant investment. Hotels and hospitality businesses have increasingly recognized the ethical and consumer demand aspects of cage-free eggs.

Hotels, poultry farms and suppliers from previous engagements were also on alert for following their corporate pledges. Majority of them promised to transition to 100% cage free come 2025. This will be a game changer in the egg industry and the cage movement as it will empower other entities to follow suit. Leading hotel chains and restaurants in Africa have pledged to source 100% cage-free eggs by 2025. These commitments are seen as crucial in driving market demand and supporting broader industry change.

There is growing collaboration between hotels, suppliers, and animal welfare organizations to ensure the consistent supply of cage-free eggs. This partnership aims to streamline the supply chain and address potential barriers to adoption of cage free eggs.

The summit also focused on the development and implementation of policies to support cage-free transitions where Governments are encouraged to adopt and enforce regulations that mandate cage-free systems.

It was also discussed that raising awareness among consumers and farmers about the benefits of cage-free systems is essential. Educational campaigns and training programs are being developed to support this transition. Similarly,?Investment in research to improve cage-free farming practices and reduce costs is critical.

The Open Wing Alliance Africa Summit 2024 marked a pivotal moment in the movement towards cage-free systems in Africa. The discussions underscored the progress made, highlighted the commitments of various stakeholders, and outlined the strategies and policies needed to overcome existing challenges.?

Utunzi Animal Welfare’s participation in the summit reflects its ongoing commitment to advancing animal welfare and supporting sustainable, humane practices across the continent.

As Africa continues to embrace cage-free practices, collaborative efforts among governments, businesses, and advocacy groups will be crucial in driving meaningful change and ensuring a brighter future for farm animals.

Story by Josphat Ekuam