A Better Future For Farmed Animals. Sinergia Animal Launches 2025 White Paper “Cage-Free Eggs: Global Transition Towards Acceptable Business Models

Q&A Session after the Presentation

Consumers, companies, governments, and financial institutions are increasingly questioning not only how food is produced, but whether current production systems are ethically acceptable, sustainable, and aligned with societal expectations, according to an extensive new report by Sinergia Animal. In the egg sector, this shift has placed intensive confinement systems, particularly battery cages, under growing scrutiny and accelerated momentum toward cage-free alternatives.

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On December 11, 2025, in Jakarta, stakeholders from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand gathered to discuss the future of egg production and farmed animal welfare, coinciding with the launch of “Cage-Free Eggs: Global Transition Towards Acceptable Business Models,” a white paper developed by Sinergia Animal International’s Animal Welfare and Research Program. 

Organized by Act for Farmed Animals, the meeting brought together representatives from government, academia, veterinary associations, producers, certification bodies, civil society, and food companies to explore how cage-free systems can be scaled responsibly.

The discussions reflected a growing consensus: the transition to cage-free egg production is increasingly recognized as an ethical necessity, a public health consideration, and a strategic business decision essential for remaining competitive in a rapidly evolving global market.

Why Cage-Free Eggs Matter for Sustainability and Business

Today, sustainability encompasses environmental impacts, human health, animal welfare, and ethical considerations. If production systems are deemed unacceptable by society, that system is increasingly viewed as unsustainable, according to the report and backed up by the discussion held in Jakarta. 

Scientific evidence and public scrutiny are putting intensive confinement systems under pressure. Battery cages, widely used in egg production, severely restrict the movement and behavioral expression of laying hens. As a result, they have become one of the most criticized systems within animal agriculture.

The white paper highlights that animal welfare is no longer a peripheral concern. As consumer perceptions, market demands, and legislation evolve, companies that do not improve animal welfare standards risk losing market access. In contrast, those that act can benefit from improved public image, product differentiation, and access to new markets.

In Indonesia, this shift is already underway. Approximately 5% of the country’s total egg production now comes from cage-free farms, and this figure is expected to increase as demand for ethical products grows. Similar trends are emerging across Southeast Asia, signaling a critical moment for the region’s egg industry.

Cage-Free Eggs, One Health, and Public Health Risks

The Jakarta meeting opened with remarks from Drh. Septa Walyani, M.Si, Head of the Animal Welfare Implementation Team at Indonesia’s Ministry of Agriculture, emphasized the importance of a One Health approach. This framework recognizes that human, animal, and environmental health are interconnected and must be addressed together to build safe, ethical, and sustainable food systems.

Intensive animal farming systems pose significant public health risks. High stocking densities, genetic homogeneity, poor air quality, lack of sunlight, and chronic stress weaken animals’ immune systems and increase vulnerability to infectious diseases. Approximately 75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted between animals and humans.

The reliance on intensive farming systems has also driven massive antibiotic use in animals. Over 70% of antibiotics sold worldwide are used in animals raised on intensive farms. This has contributed to the rapid emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In 2019, 4.95 million human deaths were associated with AMR, a figure projected to rise to 10 million annually by 2050 if current trends continue.

Food safety is another concern. Salmonella remains one of the leading causes of foodborne illness globally, often linked to poultry products such as eggs. According to the World Health Organization, non-typhoidal Salmonella causes an estimated 93.8 million cases of acute gastroenteritis and 155,000 deaths each year worldwide, most of which are foodborne. The European Food Safety Authority has conducted the world’s largest study on this issue and concluded that cage systems have a higher prevalence of Salmonella than cage-free systems. These interconnected risks underscore why improving animal welfare, particularly moving away from cages, is an important component of a broader One Health strategy.

Animal Welfare Impacts of Battery Cages for Laying Hens

Most laying hens worldwide are confined in battery cages where each bird has a space smaller than an A4 sheet of paper. In these systems, hens cannot walk, perch, nest, dust-bathe, forage, or fully extend their wings. Despite domestication, hens retain the same fundamental behavioral needs as their wild ancestor, the red jungle fowl. These behaviors are biologically driven and highly motivated. When hens are prevented from expressing them, the result is chronic frustration, stress, and suffering.

A scientific analysis cited in the white paper found that transitioning from battery cages to cage-free aviary systems can prevent more than 7,000 hours of pain and distress per hen, including disabling, hurtful, and annoying pain. This figure illustrates both the scale of suffering in conventional egg production and the significant welfare gains achievable through system change. As Fernanda Vieira, Director of Sinergia Animal’s Animal Welfare and Research Program, explained during the event, cages are widely recognized by animal welfare experts as inadequate and a major source of stress for laying hens.

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Cage Free Eggs Global Transition Towards Acceptable Business Models White Paper.pdf

Download PDF • 16.97MB

Other Ethical Challenges for the Industry

The routine killing of newly hatched male chicks raises another major ethical issue for consumers. Male chicks in the egg industry are generally considered to have no economic value, and approximately 7 billion male chicks are killed each year, often just after they are born.

Emerging technologies, such as pre-hatching sex determination, have been proposed as more ethically acceptable alternatives.

Business, Investor, and Financial Risks of Caged Egg Production

Animal welfare has become a real concern for financial institutions and investors. The white paper highlights that long-term value creation is increasingly tied to sustainability, including the avoidance of negative impacts on human welfare, animal welfare, and the environment.

Companies without farm animal welfare policies face significant risks, including food recalls, reputational damage, and loss of investor support. In contrast, higher welfare standards offer opportunities for innovation, product differentiation, and access to new markets.

International frameworks reflect this shift. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has incorporated animal welfare provisions into its Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct. Investor initiatives such as the FAIRR Initiative, the Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW), and the Farm Animal Responsible Minimum Standards (FARMS) further demonstrate increasing financial scrutiny of animal agriculture.

Global Momentum and Regional Action

Legislative momentum is accelerating. Conventional battery cages have been banned in Switzerland since 1992 and are now prohibited across the European Union and in several other countries and regions.

Trade policy is evolving. Animal welfare conditions have been included in the free trade agreement between the EU and New Zealand and are under discussion in negotiations between the EU and Mercosur. In Europe, the “End the Cage Age” European Citizens’ Initiative, signed by 1.4 million people, has prompted a commitment to revise legislation and potentially phase out caged farming.

In Southeast Asia, governments are also taking steps to respond to these changes. Thailand has established a voluntary cage-free certification standard. Indonesia plans to legitimize animal welfare regulations and publish voluntary poultry guidelines, while the ASEAN Good Animal Husbandry Practices (GAHP) initiative seeks to harmonize livestock standards across the region.

Collaboration in Jakarta

The Jakarta meeting brought these global and regional developments to the table. Sixty-three participants from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand represented government bodies, universities, veterinary associations, producers, certification organizations, animal welfare groups, and food companies.

Luiz Mazzon, General Director of Humane Farm Animal Care, emphasized that while certification is important, it must be supported by traceability, education, and consistent implementation to ensure real welfare improvements. Producers and consultants discussed economic and technical challenges while presenting practical solutions for transitioning to cage-free systems. Corporate representatives, including Novotel Jakarta Cikini, shared their experience working toward 100% cage-free egg sourcing by 2026, demonstrating that animal welfare is increasingly viewed as an investment aligned with sustainability commitments.

Market Transformation Underway

Consumer studies across the Global South show that concern for farmed animal welfare is widespread. Many consumers report caring about animal suffering and express a preference for cage-free eggs when available. Globally, more than 2,500 companies have committed to sourcing cage-free eggs. In Indonesia, 21 companies have already fully transitioned to 100% cage-free sourcing, with similar progress underway in Malaysia and Thailand. These developments indicate that cage-free systems are becoming the new benchmark for acceptable business practices in the egg sector.

Towards a Cage-Free Future

The white paper concludes that the transition to cage-free egg production is essential for improving animal welfare, protecting public health, maintaining market access, and building sustainable food systems. As Aisah Nurul Fitri, Sinergia Animal’s White Paper Project Lead, explained during the Jakarta meeting, cage-free systems are feasible for businesses, and collaboration across sectors can accelerate progress.

According to “One Health, One Welfare, One Planet” - humans, animals, and the environment are interconnected, and food systems must evolve accordingly. Thanks to growing consumer pressure, changing legislation, and increasing corporate commitments, the cage-free transition in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand is already underway.

DOWNLOAD REPORT HERE

Cage Free Eggs Global Transition Towards Acceptable Business Models White Paper.pdf

Download PDF • 16.97MB

Frequently Asked Questions About Cage-Free Eggs

What are cage-free eggs?

Cage-free eggs come from hens raised in systems that allow them to move freely within indoor or aviary environments, rather than being confined to battery cages.

Why are battery cages harmful to laying hens?

Battery cages severely restrict movement and prevent hens from expressing natural behaviors such as nesting, perching, dust-bathing, and wing-flapping, leading to stress, injury, and long-term suffering.

How does cage-free egg production affect public health?

Cage-free systems are associated with lower disease risks than intensive cage systems, which rely heavily on antibiotics and have a higher prevalence of foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella.

Why are some companies transitioning to cage-free eggs?

Companies are responding to consumer expectations, evolving legislation, investor scrutiny, and the need to reduce reputational and financial risks associated with low animal welfare standards.