Egg Farmers of Canada
- Web
- Food
Context
Egg Farmers of Canada (EFC) has a longstanding track-record of supporting sustainable initiatives and programs, including investment in a comprehensive science-based research program, farm level decision-making tools, and environmental technologies.
In 2023, the agriculture organization representing the interests of egg farmers in the country, announced its commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 as the next step in the industry’s sustainability journey.
Mandate & Goals
To promote environmental sustainability and support producers in these efforts, Egg Farmers of Canada (EFC), in collaboration with researchers from the University of British Columbia (UBC), aimed to create a National Environmental Sustainability and Technology Tool (NESTT).
In 2022, the organization enlisted the technological expertise of Mirego to assist in the design and development of this innovative web application, with the aim of achieving three major objectives:
- Promote environmental sustainability within the industry.
- Assess the current level of sustainability in the industry.
- Help producers in their efforts to improve environmental sustainability.
Approach
Technology derived from scientific research
The development of NESTT is a collaborative effort, leveraging the expertise of Dr. Nathan Pelletier EFC Research Chair in sustainability and his research team at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. This collaboration ensures that the tool is grounded in cutting-edge research and best practices in sustainability.
“With the growing demand and uses of eggs comes the responsibility to produce eggs sustainably, which is why our nation’s egg sector and our hard working egg farmers from coast to coast remain committed to continually improving operations and practices and why we invest in innovation and new tools like NESTT.”
Interface
Complex Data, Simplified Visualization
Our team faced the challenge of making complex data and information visualization accessible for the project. Given the sophisticated calculations required in the background, it was essential to design a user interface that presents the results in a simple and comprehensible manner.
By adopting a user-centered approach, including workshops and focus groups with farmers, we developed a streamlined and intuitive digital experience. This interface enables users with diverse backgrounds and technological skill levels to easily understand and utilize the provided information, despite the underlying complexity of the calculations.
Features
Measure, monitor and manage a farm’s environmental footprint
By providing on-demand access to the latest agricultural sustainability research data, NESTT empowers producers to create an action plan, set sustainability goals, track progress, and work towards making their operations even more sustainable.
Comprehensive Environmental Assessment
NESTT enables farmers to measure their farm's environmental footprint, including water and energy consumption. To complete their assessment, producers need to answer a series of questions and submit information about their flock, feed and water consumption, energy use, manure management, and transportation.
This comprehensive assessment provides detailed insights into the sustainability of their practices, helping them identify areas where they can make improvements.
User-Friendly Dashboard
Each farmer has access to a specialized dashboard that displays the performance metrics of their farm. This includes the status of their flocks, sustainability ratings, and comparisons with other farms in their region or across Canada.
This transparency and ease of access to information empower farmers to make data-driven decisions.
Personalized Action Plans
Based on the results of the sustainability assessment, farmers can set personalized goals to improve their sustainability ratings. These action plans are tailored to their specific needs and conditions, ensuring that the suggested improvements are practical and achievable.
Educational Resources
NESTT provides access to a wealth of resources, including articles and tips on efficiency and sustainability. These resources are curated based on the farmer's location and interests, offering relevant and actionable advice.
Projecting the Implementation of New Technologies
Adopting green technologies involves significant financial investments for producers. To help them measure the impact and make informed business decisions, the platform allows them to evaluate how the addition of an alternative technology can contribute to achieving their sustainability goals.
Results
Over the past 12 months, NESTT has demonstrated significant success and impact within the Canadian egg farming community. Here are some key highlights, reinforcing its value as a tool for promoting environmental sustainability:
Positive Testimonials
Farmers who have adopted NESTT have shared overwhelmingly positive feedback. For instance, one farmer mentioned, "I was able to use NESTT to determine my baseline environmental footprint and it gives me resources to help improve my farm's carbon footprint. This will become useful as I make changes to production practices whether it is housing or adding energy-efficient products to our farm."
Increased Adoption
There has been a steady increase in the number of farmers using NESTT. Within the past year, the number of registered users has grown by 30%, indicating a strong and growing interest in sustainability practices among egg farmers.
Product evolution
Efforts are focused on continuous product evolution and improvement, incorporating new features based on user feedback. The product undergoes new development phases every year to ensure it meets the evolving needs of farmers.
