The supermarket chain said it is the first to launch such a range of eggs, which are the first product to be sold as part of the company’s drive to source directly from UK zero-emission farms by 2020. The egg-laying hens are fed a soya-free diet, including insects fed on scraps from Morrisons’ bakery, fruit and veg, using an insect ‘mini farm’ container from UK start-up Better Origin, which has installed on site. The supermarket said insects are a natural part of the diet of the chickens’ ancestors and have no negative impact on the quality, shelf life or taste of the eggs. Cutting out soybeans avoids the emissions associated with clearing forests and other land to grow the crop in places like Brazil and the transportation pollution from transporting the feed. The farm from which the first stock of carbon-neutral eggs comes also has a large wind turbine, solar panels and a program to offset any residual emissions on the farm, with a fifth of its land planted with trees. A report from the University of Cambridge, which looked at egg production, including an insect farm, food waste transport, local grain sourcing and hen housing and care, showed they are carbon neutral. Morrisons said the product is the first to carry the British Lion Egg Green Seal to indicate its lower environmental impact to customers. The free-range eggs will initially be available in 50 Yorkshire stores and Morrisons’ new lower-impact store in Little Clacton, Essex, with a national rollout planned for 2023. They cost 30p each or £1.50 for a pack of six. The retailer hopes sustainable beef, lamb, fruit and vegetables from clean zero-carbon farms will follow. Sophie Throup, head of agriculture at Morrisons, said: “This is our first carbon neutral product and there will be many more to come. It’s part of our drive to source directly from only ‘zero carbon’ UK farms by 2030. “We know our customers are mindful of the environmental impact of the food they eat and want affordable zero-emissions production. “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.” 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.”
