NorthManchester, Indiana – Today, August 23rd, 2023, Kipster and MPS Egg Farms
host a celebration focusing on the future of chicken farming – where animals
and the environment come first.
Kipster is a forward-thinkingaward-winning Dutch egg farmer that puts the environment and animal welfare at its core. And this month theyhave something to celebrate together with partner MPS Egg Farms: the construction of the first U.S. based Kipster farm is finished.
Future of egg farming
It’stime for an informative party about the future of egg farming. Over 120 guests
join the celebrations – coming from NGOs, government, food companies, poultry
and feed industry associations, academics, media, and a host of other
businesses. Speakers include Temple Grandin (Colorado State University), Darrin
Karcher (Purdue University), Don Lamb (Indiana State Department of
Agriculture), Phil Lymbery (Compassion in World Farming), Imke de Boer, Hannah
van Zanten (Wageningen University), Pete Pearson (WWF), Ruud Zanders (Kipster).
The master of ceremonies is international comedian and self-affirmed
chicken-lover Greg Shapiro.
Revolutionaryand sustainable
TheU.S. Kipster eggs are produced at MPSEgg Farms inNorth Manchester, Indiana. This is all thanks to the boldness of TheKroger Co.in wanting to bring this revolutionary and sustainable form of egg farming to
the USA. The Kipster farmers have shown it’s possible to produce eggs and
meat with low environmental impacts and improved animal welfare – while still
also being economically viable.
Certified Carbon Neutral
Kipsterachieves carbon neutrality for the eggs by reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions as much as possible. Any remaining emissions are offset by investing
in external carbon reduction projects. CarbonNeutral certification means that
Kipster is following The CarbonNeutralProtocol –in a clear, transparent, and credible manner. Emissions are reduced mainly by feeding the hens with residualflows from food production. The hens eat a specially developed feed made from
leftovers from, for example, large bakeries. Also, solar panels on the roofs of
the barns power the farm. And the white eggs also help: their CO2 footprint is
5% less
“Wemust eliminate the concept of ‘waste’ in our food system by creating higher
value uses for food surplus. I’m encouraged by Kipster’s efforts to put this
into practice, marking a major step toward a circular food economy. Food and
organic materials should never go to landfill,”
said Pete Pearson, SeniorDirector, Food Loss and Waste, World Wildlife Fund.
Animalwelfare
The Kipster chickens are treated with utmost dignityand respect and Kipster eggs are CertifiedHumane. They have an indoor garden to roam in and they cango outside. Their beaks are kept intact and there’s plenty of enrichment so they don’t start messing with each other. Kipster isalso taking its vision further in other ways – for instance, by including
roosters in the mix. Usually, the male brothers of laying hens are shredded
soon after hatching. Now at Kipster, the roosters are ‘upcycled’ for meat and
together with meat from Kipster hens, are turned into valuable protein to feed
people – instead of being treated as waste products to be used for composting
or animal feed.
Mimi Dale Stein, Executive Directorat Humane Farm Animal Care says:
“We recognize Kipster for theirdedication to laying hen welfare and are proud to have them qualify for our
Certified Humane® program.”
Seeit to believe it
In factKipster has lots of other facts to share with you. For instance, in the name of
transparency, there is 24/7 chicken cam that is livestreaming to the
YouTube Kipster Channel. Check it out. For those not at the celebration, drop
by at another time and visit the farm visitor center – complete with a small
exhibition.
“Having known of the company’s pioneering work inEurope for many years, I am delighted to see Kipster’s visionary high-welfare,
carbon-neutral approach to egg production opening in the US. This is a moment
to celebrate for chickens and the planet alike,”
says PhilipLymbery, Global CEO, Compassion in World Farming International.
Availability
Co-brandedunder Kroger’s label Simple Truth +Kipster,the eggs are available at Kroger owned stores including Kroger, Ralphs, King
Soopers, Fred Meyer, Fry's, Mariano’s, Metro Market, Pay Less Supermarkets,
Roundy’s, Pick ‘n Save, QFC, Smith’s in over 30 states.
Kipstermeat products will enter the market in 2024.
AnniversaryCelebration Information
August23, 9:30 AM until 3:30 PM
At the Kipster farm. Address: 5684 E 1100 N,North Manchester, IN 46962
Forcontact, guided tours, interviews, images or more information, contact:
SandraVijn, Managing Director Kipster U.S.
sandra@kipster.farm
+1 215-704-9451
For images and Manifesto: https://www.kipster.farm/#presshttps://www.kipster.farm/#press
Twitter: @kipster.farm
Facebook: @kipsterfarm
LinkedIn: Kipster
Instagram: @kipster.farm
YouTube: @kipsterfarm