Animal welfare at the heart of our strategy

The health and welfare of laying hens are a pillar of our sustainability strategy and ethical values.
In 2024, we continued to invest in turning our commitment into concrete action and pursuing our shared goals for the protection of animal welfare.

Cage-free farms: a concrete and evolving commitment

In July 2023, we reached a significant milestone: today, all Italian farms owned by the Group are cage-free, using alternative systems such as organic, free-range, and barn farming

As for the Italian farms acquired after 2021 (currently non-operational and undergoing upgrades), as well as those located in other European countries where we operate – France, Spain, and Romania – the transition to cage-free systems will continue through 2030.

Initially planned for 2027, the target has been extended to 2030 to take into account the challenges faced by the sector at an international level, including health emergencies and market instability. These circumstances have led to delays in the conversion process, which requires significant financial investment, skilled human resources, and the necessary time for structural work and regulatory approvals.

Barn farming: guaranteed welfare with open aviaries

The results of the project carried out in 2021 in collaboration with CIWF and the University of Bologna, aimed at improving animal welfare in barn farms, confirmed the effectiveness of Eurovo’s approach.

In line with the project’s findings, we have reaffirmed our commitment to using exclusively open-type aviaries in all company-owned barn farms.
This commitment is being implemented through a phased plan:

• Italian farms acquired before 2020 will be converted to open aviary systems by the end of 2025, taking into account the necessary upgrades and the possible modifications based on the characteristics of each facility.

• Farms acquired between 2021 and 2022 will be upgraded by the end of 2027, while those acquired in subsequent years will be adapted according to a timeline consistent with the above, generally within five years of acquisition.
• Farms located in other European countries where we operate (France, Spain, and Romania) will also be upgraded by the end of 2027, taking into account that at least five years are typically needed for adjustments following acquisition.

Our investments in animal welfare continue to grow alongside the Group, supporting each new acquisition with the same commitment and high standards that have always guided our decisions.
Each acquisition includes targeted investments to ensure compliance with our ethical principles and the highest standards of animal welfare.