Performance Story:
The agriculture sector, particularly livestock groups, is at risk of losing general public support on issues such as food safety, animal care and environmental sustainability. The Manitoba Egg Farmers took a proactive approach at its recent Annual General Meeting by adopting a concept called the Five Freedoms when setting standards for the hens in their care as part of the organization's long term strategy.
The freedoms originated in Europe and have become part of the demands of groups fighting to improve farm animal welfare in modern production systems. They include freedom from hunger or thirst, freedom from discomfort, freedom from pain, injury or disease, freedom to express normal behaviour, and freedom from fear and distress.
The speaker supported through this project shared his experience in the logging business to help livestock producers and members of the agricultural community understand the important role societal values are beginning to play with respect to the farmers’ freedom to operate and convey the consequences of not understanding the importance of societal values and letting activists take over the agenda.
Approximately 360 people attended the event and organizers reported positive feedback as well as substantial media coverage.
