The world's first low-cost in-ovo sexing solution to finally end chick culling

Project Information

Omegga

Grant agreement ID: 101166325

DOI

10.3030/101166325

Project closed

EC signature date 9 June 2024

Start date 1 April 2024

End date 31 March 2026

Funded under

• The European Innovation Council (EIC)

Total cost

€ 3 474 500,00

EU contribution

€ 2 432 150,00

Coordinated by

OMEGGA GMBH
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Omegga (The world's first low-cost in-ovo sexing solution to finally end chick culling)

Reporting period: 2024-04-01 to 2025-03-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The poultry industry faces a major ethical and economic challenge: each year, over 7 billion male chicks from egg-laying breeds are killed shortly after hatching. These male chicks are not suitable for meat production and obviously cannot lay eggs, so they are typically shredded or gassed—a process now widely seen as cruel and wasteful. While some countries still allow this practice, others like Germany and France have already banned it, pushing hatcheries to urgently seek viable, humane alternatives.
Omegga is tackling this issue with an in-ovo sexing technology based on AI-powered absorption spectroscopy. Our system can determine the sex of an embryo while still inside the egg by day 6 of incubation—well before the development of any pain perception—using a fully automated and non-invasive approach. This allows male and non-viable eggs to be removed early and repurposed for uses such as vaccine production or animal feed, completely avoiding the need for culling.
By integrating directly into existing hatchery infrastructure, our technology ensures minimal disruption and offers hatcheries a cost-effective, scalable, and regulation-compliant solution. The expected impact is substantial: we aim to eliminate the culling of up to 100 million male chicks annually. This project aligns with the EU’s strategic goals to improve animal welfare, promote sustainable agricultural innovation, and support a circular economy in food production.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Below is a summary of the main technical activities implemented since the beginning of the project:

- Prototype Development: A measurement unit capable of non-invasively analyzing eggs within in the incubator during incubation was successfully developed and tested in pilot hatcheries.
- Data Collection and Model Training: The AI-based classification system has been trained on thousands of test eggs, refining its ability to distinguish male, female, and non-viable embryos with high accuracy.
- Industrial Testing: The first industry trials at Gut Averfeld have demonstrated the system’s reliability and ease of integration into existing hatchery operations.
- Partnerships: Strong collaborations have been established with major players in the industry, including hatcheries and equipment manufacturers, to ensure smooth adoption and scalability.
- Regulatory Alignment: Continuous alignment with regulatory frameworks, particularly in Germany and the EU, ensures that the technology remains compliant with upcoming legislative requirements. (Italy is banning chick chulling starting 2027)

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

- Non-invasive Detection: Unlike other methods that require puncturing the eggshell, Omegga’s approach is purely optical, preserving hatchability rates and reducing contamination risks.
- Early Sexing (Day 6): Most competing solutions operate between days 9 and 13, whereas Omegga enables earlier intervention, aligning with stricter animal welfare regulations.
- Cost-Effectiveness: The system is designed to offer in-ovo sexing at a significantly lower cost than competitors, making it feasible for widespread adoption, even in non-regulated markets.
- Integration into Incubators: The Plug&Play design allows for seamless integration into existing incubation processes, minimizing additional space requirements and operational disruptions.
- Scalability: The modular system can be adapted for hatcheries of various sizes, ensuring a broad market reach and industry-wide impact.
To ensure further uptake and long-term success, key enablers include continued investment in algorithm optimisation and industrial-scale testing, expanded access to financing and manufacturing partners for commercialization, targeted dissemination of case studies to build market trust, and the establishment of strategic alliances to support internationalisation and compliance with evolving regulatory and standardisation frameworks.

In-ovo sexing system using AI-powered absorption spectroscopy