He writes:
I have just been fortunate enough to go to Poland to speak at a poultry conference. The trip included a visit to a hatchery doing one million chicks per week, owning all the breeder farms and feed mill.
The hatchery does not set eggs by age but weight - 52 grams minimum. It also had all single aged setters in the hatching facility. It could spray the chicks with vaccines, antibiotics and disinfectant if required.
So why is the industry so well thought of in Poland? Every speaker reiterated the industry’s importance.
For example, can you imagine a member of the Environment Agency saying that odour was the fault of the planners for allowing it to happen?
Well, Poland is the number one producer of poultry in the EU. The industry is export driven, reflecting a need by the country for hard currency, which has helped fund 6% annual growth.
The deputy CVO also praised the industry for its strong growth and said he would do all he could to maintain its status as the cheapest and best by maintaining the genetics of the birds.
On campylobacter, factory intervention is viewed as offering the main solution. At present, the level is 85% contaminated.
So, all in all, Poland looks likely to maintain its status as Europe's largest producer of poultry meat if the authorities have anything to do with it.