Tiruchirappalli, Sep 03: As businesses across Asia increasingly adopt commitments to source cage-free eggs, industry stakeholders in India are turning their attention to the practical question of how these commitments can be translated into credible, commercially viable action.
To support this transition, Global Food Partners India, People for Animals-Public Policy Foundation, Asia Research & Engagement, and India Karuna Collective brought together corporate stakeholders for a focused learning and engagement session on cage-free egg production in India, followed by a guided visit to a cage-free demonstration farm.
Across Asia, food companies — including quick-service restaurants, hospitality groups and global consumer brands — have made cage-free commitments in response to evolving corporate policies, stakeholder expectations and growing attention to animal welfare and supply-chain practices.
The session was designed to address implementation challenges by combining business-focused discussions with first-hand exposure to cage-free production.
GFP, PFA-PPF, and ARE presented on the business case for cage-free eggs, practical implementation pathways in the Indian market, supply-chain considerations and the operational realities of cage-free production.
For corporate participants, the farm visit provided an opportunity to see first-hand how cage-free housing, flock management, stocking densities and other production practices translate into day-to-day farm operations. Participants also discussed the commercial and operational considerations involved in developing a reliable and scalable cage-free supply chain from commitment to implementation
For many companies, the question is no longer whether cage-free sourcing is relevant, but how to develop an approach that is commercially viable and suited to Indian market conditions.
The initiative aimed to help companies develop a clearer understanding of what cage-free production looks like in practice, assess the business case within Indian market realities, build internal alignment and identify potential entry points for future action — including pilots, direct sourcing and partnerships.
Crysel Garg, Corporate Engagement Lead – India, Global Food Partners, said:
“India is at an important point in the transition towards cage-free egg sourcing. We are seeing growing interest from companies, but interest alone does not create a functioning supply chain. Companies need to understand what implementation actually looks like — from the commercial case and procurement considerations to supplier capacity and farm-level realities. Bringing corporate stakeholders to our demonstration farm allows us to connect the strategic conversation with what is happening on the ground and helps companies identify practical next steps.”
Priyanka Bangari, Trustee, PFA-PPF, said:
“The transition to cage-free systems is ultimately about creating better conditions for animals while building systems that can work at scale. It is important that conversations around cage-free sourcing are grounded in an understanding of how farms operate and what meaningful improvements look like in practice. Creating opportunities for businesses to see these systems first-hand can help turn awareness into informed and responsible action.”
Rituj Saju, Director, Protein Transition/Sustainable Food Systems, India, Asia Research & Engagement, said:
“The protein transition is not only about what companies commit to, but about their ability to translate those commitments into measurable action across their supply chains. In India, businesses need a clearer understanding of market realities, supplier readiness and the practical pathways available for cage-free sourcing. Greater transparency and closer engagement between buyers and producers will be critical to developing a credible and scalable cage-free egg market.”
Connecting business decisions with farm-level realities
The farm component focused on:
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Cage-free and conventional housing systems, wherever applicable
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Bird density, behaviour and welfare conditions
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Farm management practices and associated cost considerations
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Supply-chain requirements, including scale, consistency and constraints
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Questions around the scalability of cage-free production in India
By combining market and business discussions with direct exposure to production systems, the initiative sought to bridge the gap between corporate commitments and the realities of implementation. The ultimate objective is to help companies move beyond broad commitments and begin identifying practical, commercially relevant and time-bound pathways for action — while supporting the development of a stronger and more transparent cage-free egg supply chain in India.