Breaking Boundaries: The Rise of Carbon-Neutral Eggs
In an unprecedented partnership, The Kroger Co. and MPS Egg Farms are set to launch the nation’s premier carbon-neutral egg selection on Kroger store shelves by early 2023. These eggs, proudly labeled under Kroger’s Simple Truth brand, will originate from a cage-free, closed-loop system, meticulously designed to prioritize sustainability, environmental stewardship, and animal welfare.
The genesis of this groundbreaking endeavor dates back to 2019 when Kroger first caught wind of a carbon-neutral egg production blueprint pioneered by Kipster Farms in the Netherlands. Motivated by this innovative model, Kroger promptly initiated discussions with MPS Egg Farms to bring this transformative concept stateside.
After over two years of intensive deliberations with Kipster Farms, including a fact-finding mission to the Netherlands to witness their system firsthand, MPS has erected four state-of-the-art carbon-neutral henhouses on one of its farms in North Manchester.
A Haven for Hens
These cutting-edge barns crafted by MPS are meticulously tailored to cater to the welfare of the hens, surpassing the standards of most commercial chicken facilities in the United States, according to Sam Krouse, the Vice President of Business Development at MPS, and a scion of the family business.
While adhering to the Kipster model, which advocates for barns occupying a slightly reduced footprint compared to traditional cage-free facilities, each structure boasts outdoor enclosures, skylights, and lush garden spaces, facilitating the hens to engage in their innate behaviors.
“Chickens are inherently arboreal creatures, exhibiting a penchant for perching and climbing rather than simply roaming in pastures,” remarks Krouse. “Our garden areas offer an array of amenities such as trees, rocks, and climbing structures to enrich their environment.”
To mitigate the carbon footprint of egg production, the hens are nourished with a diet comprising repurposed bakery byproducts supplemented with essential nutrients, diverging from the conventional corn-based poultry feed. Moreover, the chickens themselves belong to a white breed, recognized for their superior efficiency in converting feed into eggs, as highlighted by Krouse.
Driving Sustainability Forward
In recent years, MPS has fervently embraced initiatives aimed at minimizing its ecological footprint across all facets of its operations, ranging from the implementation of a state-of-the-art manure-drying system to the widespread adoption of solar panels. Additionally, the company has spearheaded educational endeavors, such as a pilot project in Indiana, aimed at empowering farmers to assess and mitigate their carbon footprint.
“Embracing sustainability isn’t just an environmental imperative; it’s a testament to our commitment as responsible global citizens and conscientious corporate stewards,” asserts Krouse.
While MPS continues to deliver conventional and cage-free eggs from its six farms, the Kipster-inspired venture represents a nascent yet promising aspect of its business. Plans are underway to expand the carbon-neutral initiative in the forthcoming year.
With Indiana emerging alongside Ohio and Iowa as a leading egg-producing state in the nation, this pioneering carbon-neutral endeavor has the potential to position the Hoosier State at the vanguard of a burgeoning national movement.
“In an era marked by increasing discourse on regenerative agriculture, Kipster serves as a paragon, championing the upcycling of resources,” reflects Krouse. “As a company, we remain steadfast in our commitment to sustainability, continually exploring avenues to effect meaningful change on a larger scale.”