VIDEO: SMART Broiler welfare initiative enters new phase

The SMART Broiler initiative will announce the next phase of technologies designed to objectively measure broiler chicken welfare this fall.

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Broilers Farm Indoors Edited


The SMART Broiler initiative will announce the next phase of technologies designed to objectively measure broiler chicken welfare this fall.

“Broiler welfare is critical for chicken production. We teamed up with McDonald’s to develop and commercialize automated monitoring tools that can objectively assess chicken welfare,” Nikki Dutta, scientific program officer, advanced animal systems, Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR), said.

At the 2022 Poultry Tech Summit, scheduled for October 30 - November 1 in Atlanta, Georgia, FFAR will announce which of these six projects were chosen for the second phase of the program, designed to refine and validate the most promising technologies. 

This one-of-a-kind in-person event facilitates the transition of innovation technologies from researchers and entrepreneurs into commercial applications for the benefit of the poultry industry. Make plans to attend and take a look at the future of the industry.

Registration for the 2022 Poultry Tech Summit is now open.

SMART Broiler Phase II

Today, many farms rely on manual observation and subjective scoring methods to assess broiler welfare. The SMART Broiler program leads the search for automated Sensors, Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technologies (SMART) that could enhance bird welfare and improve efficiencies for producers.

FFAR identified six Phase I winners at the 2019 Poultry Tech Summit. These projects – which incorporated a range of audio and visual Innovations – received funding to accelerate the development and commercialism of the technologies. 

“We strategically built this out to have two different phases. The first is early testing and refinement, while the second is further testing and validation,” Dutta added.

The winning technologies of Phase II will be tested in commercial trials in the U.S. and European supply chains. Funding assistance came from McDonalds Corp., which helped develop the program, and the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY).

Attend the 2022 Poultry Tech Summit

Join an exclusive international gathering of industry-changing innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs, technology experts, investors and leading poultry producers at the 2022 edition of Poultry Tech Summit on October 30 - November 1 in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Attendees can expect the same groundbreaking innovation and insightful presentations that made the previous events well-attended with deep dialogue on new prospective solutions and next-generation technologies. Poultry Tech Summit focuses on the transition of innovative technologies into commercial applications to advance the poultry industry. 

Registration is now open.

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