Feature Focus: Jan Henriksen – Finding the Right Balance
Finding the right balance in poultry production: Welfare, sustainability and food security
Why harmony — not trade-offs — will shape the future of poultry production
Picture the sides of a perfectly balanced equilateral triangle, each harmoniously holding the other up. Now imagine that animal welfare, environmental sustainability and food security in poultry production each represent one side of this trio. As our CEO Jan Henriksen recently shared in Poultry International, these three goals must work in unison to create a food system that is humane, resilient, and capable of feeding a growing global population through sustainable poultry production while driving toward a net-zero future. Together, they form a vital necessity for our industry—a balance that protects animal wellbeing while sustaining our planet for years to come.
The link between animal welfare and resource efficiency
At the heart of this triangle is animal welfare, the essential foundation of responsible production. We recognize that our success begins with a deep responsibility toward the birds in our care. When we prioritize poultry health—through balanced breeding and improved management—we create flocks that are more resilient and consistent, which naturally strengthens the entire food chain. This focus on wellbeing flows directly into our commitment to the planet and the second leg of our triangle. By improving feed conversion and resource stewardship, we reduce the environmental footprint of poultry production—ensuring environmental responsibility and economic stability work together for the long term.
Food security and global resilience in poultry production
The final side of the triangle, food security, represents our promise to help provide affordable, nutritious protein to every community through poultry production built on resilient birds. Across cultures and continents, people love chicken for its versatility, accessibility, and nutritional value—making it a cornerstone of food security worldwide. True stability is found when local production and global cooperation work together to withstand the challenges of an uncertain world. Whether supporting nations as they build self-sufficiency or maintaining the trade networks that fill resource gaps, the goal is a reliable and steady supply. By recognizing that welfare, sustainability, and food security are not competing interests but reinforcing strengths, we can build a future where the world is fed ethically and reliably.
“The goal isn’t to choose among welfare, sustainability, and security, but to recognize how each reinforces the others to create a resilient food system.” — Jan Henriksen, CEO, Aviagen
Aligning animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and food security is essential to the future of poultry production and to building a resilient global food security system.
We invite you to read Jan Henriksen’s full editorial in the December 2025/January 2026 edition of Poultry International: Poultry International - December 2025/January 2026 : Page 22.