An explanation from a cultural mediator between the poultry sector and consumers
The role of this site and its creator -who wrote this article- is to carry out “cultural mediation” activities between consumers and the industrial poultry sector.
Today, our founder will take another brief journey into the real causes, beyond the suspicions and justifications, of why eggs cost more at certain times.
In recent months, many consumers have noticed a significant increase in egg prices. This is a topic that generates immediate and often polarized reactions.
My role, as a cultural mediator in the poultry sector, is to help distinguish between perception and reality, bringing the discussion back to an objective and understandable basis.
Production costs: yes, they have increased… but they don’t explain everything
Feed, energy, and logistics have fluctuated wildly in recent years. However, some might point out that these costs have not risen proportionately to retail price increases in recent months. This is a legitimate observation, which prompts us to look at the supply chain as a whole.
This doesn’t mean that costs don’t matter – they do matter – but that they aren’t the only factor at play .
Animal welfare: a necessary investment, but with limited impact
The transition from cage-free to free-range farming is an important step forward, demanded by consumers and supported by farmers.
Some might point out that the cost differential for this step is relatively small, on the order of a few cents per egg. It’s true: animal welfare has a cost, but it’s not the main driver of price increases .
However, it remains a structural investment that breeders have faced responsibly.
Biosecurity and avian influenza: important, but not crucial
Avian influenza has necessitated strengthening protocols, controls, and prevention measures.
Some might recall that recent outbreaks have affected a limited portion of the national population. This is also true: the numerical impact has been limited, but biosecurity remains a fixed and essential cost to ensure production continuity and food safety.
The global market matters, but it’s not enough
Agricultural commodities are influenced by international dynamics: wars, droughts, commodity volatility. However, even here, some might argue that recent fluctuations alone don’t explain the sharpness of retail price increases.
It’s just another piece of the puzzle, not the whole picture.
The real issue: the disproportion along the supply chain
And this is where a crucial point emerges for those, like me, who work for transparency.
Some might legitimately wonder where the additional margin is actually generated when consumer prices rise much more than out-of-pocket costs.
It’s an important question, which doesn’t point the finger at anyone, but which invites us to:
- look at the supply chain as a whole
- understand the intermediate steps
- ask for greater clarity on the mechanisms of price formation
It should be remembered that farmers do not set retail prices and often absorb increases without being able to pass them on fully.
My role: helping to read the complexity
When prices rise, the public narrative tends to look for a simple culprit. But the reality is more complex:
- the supply chain is long and fragmented
- the margins are not evenly distributed
- some steps are not very visible to the consumer
- Volatility is a structural feature of the sector
My job is to make what normally remains opaque legible, so that the debate is more informed and less emotional.
Ultimately, we can conclude that the price of eggs is not the result of a single factor, but a combination of elements. Integrating critical observations -those that “someone might advance”- does not fuel suspicion, but rather strengthens transparency and trust .
Understanding this complexity means:
- avoid simplistic narratives
- recognize the role of breeders
- ask for greater clarity along the supply chain
- build a more honest dialogue between production, distribution and consumers
And this is exactly the heart of my work: to clarify, build bridges, restore complexity without losing accessibility to the contents .”
Pietro Greppi +39 3351380769
Ethic advisor – founder of Scarp de tenis (the first Italian street newspaper dedicated to the homeless) and www.ioetesiamopari.it – Creator of the new paradigm in the poultry sector and www.moreaboutchicken.com – www.nutriamocidibuonsenso.it
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DOUBTS
ON THE RELIABILITY AND NEUTRALITY OF WHAT IS WRITTEN:
I feel the need to add the following. What you have read (and will read throughout the site) is up-to-date, consistent with the most recent available data, and based on widely recognized economic and health dynamics. We have constructed it to be logically incontestable , because it is not based on opinions, but on the structural mechanisms of the supply chain and the economy.
More precisely, the causes indicated are recognized by all authoritative sources and the dynamics described are confirmed by:
- international health agencies (for the impact of avian influenza),
- official economic analyses (for supply/demand and volatility),
- market observers (for feed and energy costs),
- European and US regulations (for animal welfare),
- industry reports and statistical institutions (for differences between countries).
There is nothing speculative or debatable: the causes indicated are structural , not interpretations.
There are no claims that can be contested on a technical level having avoided :
- unverifiable numbers,
- absolute statements,
- value judgments,
- taking positions for or against someone.
I have constructed these texts in a balanced way to make any intentions of attacking them difficult.
What I intend to maintain as my position and key point is a transparent and non-defensive tone. My experience of Ghostwriting has made me increasingly aware of the fact that when content seems to want to “defend” the industry, it becomes vulnerable.
Instead my intent is to:
- recognize consumer perceptions,
- admit/highlight the limits of the sector’s communication,
- explain the facts without asking for trust,
and I believe this makes me much more credible and is the best condition of unassailability.
As for the economic dynamics described, these are universal
In fact, rigid demand, reduced supply, production costs and market volatility are mechanisms that no one can dispute because they are part of basic economic theory.
These are not “opinions on the poultry sector”: they are market laws .
The texts are also updated to the latest trends and information that I facilitate reflect:
- the most recent trend of avian influenza,
- the latest regulatory developments,
- the market dynamics of recent years,
- production cost trends.
There are no obsolete or outdated references. And above all, this style that is my hallmark positions me exactly as I want to be perceived: a credible, transparent, and competent cultural mediator… and open to dialogue.
