IKEA Food Services AB introduces the Better Chicken Programme, the first of the IKEA Food Better Programmes for more sustainable agriculture. It contains a set of requirements for more sustainable chicken production in the IKEA food supply chain addressing animal welfare, public health and environmental impact at the farm level.

IKEA Food Services wants to have a positive impact on people, animals and the planet. That is why FAI has worked closely with IKEA Food the last 2 years to develop the Better Programmes to ensure they are routed in science and agricultural best practice, while also being shaped by key stakeholder’s views. The result are a set of programmes to address and focus ambitions for more sustainable farming of all major animals in the IKEA food supply chain.

Through the Better Chicken Programme IKEA Food aims to ensure broiler chickens are raised in accordance with criteria that promote better welfare such as adequate space (max 30 kg/m2), lighting, enrichment and breeds with improved health outcomes. They work towards responsible use of antibiotics and address key environmental impacts such as deforestation and pollution from manure. For details please see the detailed criteria and road map per region available here.

The Better Chicken Programme criteria are to be implemented in two stages based on feasibility certain criteria have a 2020 deadline, and final compliance with the Better Chicken Programme is expected by 2025.

Jacqueline Macalister, Health & Sustainability Manager, IKEA Food Services AB said:
“Following two years of research and development , I’m delighted we now are sharing the Better Chicken Programme, the first of our sustainable agriculture initiatives for farm animals, which demonstrates our commitment to driving positive change in the food industry.”

The IKEA Food Better Programmes are global, developed with input from experts, NGOs and suppliers and set our minimum requirements for sourcing. The aim is to work towards sourcing of all species – chickens, laying hens, pigs , salmon, beef and dairy cattle – to be compliant by 2025.

Øistein Thorsen, FAI Director commented;
“IKEA Food’s Better Programmes represent holistic and ambitious improvement plans for all species in their food supply chain, designed to promote animal - centred and regenerative farming systems. By focusing on the whole challenge we face, we believe this approach can help enable the shift toward a more sustainable food system.”