Photo: Sara Gibler

At the beginning of the year, Ökologische Tierzucht gGmbH (ÖTZ) , a non-profit group for organic animal breeding, asked natural food retailers and consumers to support an initiative for more independent poultry breeding - with one cent for each organic egg. To date, 22 million egg-cents have been raised in the joint breeding project, which aims at greater animal welfare and better quality. Two major organic organisations, Bioland and Demeter, are cooperating in the project.

Their goal is to develop a new breed of chickens out of an older gene pool that has been unchanged by breeding. The new race will be better adapted to the housing and feeding conditions of organic farming than the hens bred today, which are bred solely for egg laying productivity. The “Eco Chicken of Tomorrow” will be an animal that not only lays eggs, but will also be suitable for fattening - a so-called “double duty chicken.”

This alternative to industrial animal production and the shredding of chicks is as an important, pioneering step towards more responsible animal breeding and rearing.  The Software AG Foundation joins various organic farms, farm shops, and organic food wholesalers who are supporting the project financially. Some organic farms are also directly involved in breeding and are using the egg-cents to help their customers see how conscientious consumer decisions can make a big difference.

Learn more about the “Eco Chicken of Tomorrow” and the work of ÖTZ in this short film created by the breeding initiative (in German).