Egg-laying chickens will have a soy-free diet, including insects fed on scraps from the bakery, fruits and vegetables from the retailer. Cutting out soy avoids the emissions associated with large-scale deforestation to grow the crop in places like Brazil – and the transport of pollution from transporting the feed. As part of Morrisons’ drive to source directly from UK zero-emission farms by 2030, insect ‘mini farm’ containers have been installed at egg suppliers in Yorkshire by Cambridge-based start-up Better Origin. The farm that will supply the first of the planet-friendly eggs has a wind turbine and solar panels and will offset emissions at the facility by planting trees, the supermarket chain said. Morrisons said insects are a normal part of a hen’s diet and their new regime will not affect the quality or taste of the eggs they produce. A Cambridge University report, which looked at factors such as hen care and egg production, confirmed that the product is carbon neutral. Competing supermarket Sainsbury’s also stocks Respectful brand “carbon neutral” eggs, but the hens are fed beans rather than insects. Sophie Throup, head of agriculture at Morrisons, said: “This is our first carbon neutral product and there will be many more to come. “We know our customers are mindful of the environmental impact of the food they eat and want affordable, zero-emissions products. “Eggs are a regular weekly purchase for most households, so we’re thrilled that, after 18 months of hard work with our farmers, these eggs are finally hitting our shelves.” Experts have long encouraged consumers to incorporate insects into the Western diet for health reasons and because they have a significantly lower carbon footprint than meat production. There was no significant change in consumer diets, but the research shows that using insects in the food production process could be an effective way to reduce carbon emissions. Subscribe to the Business Today daily email or follow Guardian Business on Twitter @BusinessDesk Ian Bamford, commercial director of the Center for Industrial Sustainability at the University of Cambridge, said: “We are delighted to have had the opportunity to review and analyze the approach Morrisons has taken to calculating the carbon impact of several of its egg producers. “It was clear that the mitigation actions put in place by the first farm to produce carbon neutral eggs allowed them to achieve this goal.” The free-range eggs will initially be available in 50 Yorkshire stores and a lower environmental impact store in Little Clacton, Essex, costing 30p each or £1.50 for a pack of six.
