Eve – From ‘black box’ to yellow box: full insight technology for chicken hatcheries

Project Information

EVE

Grant agreement ID: 816850

DOI

10.3030/816850

Project closed

EC signature date 1 June 2018

Start date 1 September 2018

End date 28 February 2019

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

IN OVO HOLDING BV
Netherlands

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EVE (Eve – From ‘black box’ to yellow box: full insight technology for chicken hatcheries)

Reporting period: 2018-09-01 to 2019-02-28

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The EU poultry industry produces 6.6 billion chickens a year for meat and egg production. These chickens are hatched in specialized farms called hatcheries. However, 14% of the incubated eggs never hatch and 6.9% of the hatched chickens are unmarketable. Hatcheries are a crucial part in the poultry production chain and the early days of a chicken's life. Nevertheless, the incubation of eggs and hatching of chickens is a poorly monitored process. In Ovo is developing a system that will enable real-time monitoring of hatchery processes. We will be able to measure data related to biological processes with a much higher resolution than what is currently possible. This way, hatchery managers will get new information about the breeding processes in their hatcheries and are able to act whenever anything is out of the ordinary. It will help them understand much better why things are not always as optimal as they seem. With our system, it will be possible to greatly reduce the amount of unmarketable (unhealthy) chickens, with a reduction up to 50%. This will reduce costs per hatchery, increase efficiency and increase animal welfare. A chicken that hitches healthy, will also produce better and live a healthier life.

The goals of this project are:
1) Analysis of the broiler market, identify launching customers
2) Design of the further development plan
3) Calculate and validate the business case
4) Define an IPR strategy
5) Write the business plan

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

In this study we have analyzed the poultry market, specifically the broiler market. We have looked to where big integrations are located and have contacted potential customers in order to understand what their needs are, how our system can solve some of their problems and what they are willing to pay for it. Together with them and other parties we have assessed what our business model should be. We've tested several new sensors and made a selection of sensors for our first product, and we have made a plan to come to the realization of our product. Additionally, we have assessed the patentability of our developments and did a freedom to operate analysis, leading to an intellectual property strategy. Finally, all results have been combined into a business plan.

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)

In regards to the current state of the art, incubators merely contain a loosely coupled set of sensors that measure CO2, humidity and temperature (with a single sensor for each incubator). This means there exists a severe lack of proper data regarding the actual breeding conditions, because current systems provide no cross-checking or correlation between what is measured, which means it is impossible to say what is going on inside the incubators seeing as, under normal conditions, they remain closed during the hatching period. Eve will progress beyond the state of the art, because the information provided by the sensor data allows for real-time insights, a detailed analysis and a better understanding of what is going on in the incubator. This ensures hatcheries can immediately respond to changes in the incubators, which saves the lives of thousands of chicks and improves profitability at the same time.

The expected results until the end of the project are to have developed a solid business plan regarding the economic, technical and operational feasibility for the development of Eve.

Day-old chicks in a hatchery