Celebrating World Egg Day From Farm To Plate

Oct 11, 2019

Whether it's over easy, poached, scrambled or in your favourite cake, today is the day to reach into the fridge and crack open a carton of eggs in celebration of the hard work and dedication put into raising such a quality product.

Friday, October 11 is World Egg Day, and Egg Farmers of Alberta Marketing and Communications Manager, David Webb, says it isn't just a job for the over 170 egg farming families across the Province.

"They walk the barns several times throughout the day, they get to know their flocks. They have state-of-the-art equipment to monitor everything from the pH level of the water, the amount of feed that each of the birds is eating on a daily basis, the weight of the birds."

Webb says farmers even have apps on their phones which tell them if barn conditions deviate from what's optimal for the animals.

World Egg Day also raises the question of how eggs get from the farm to your plate?

Webb explains there's a cooler on the farms regulated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency where they can keep eggs for up to a week.

He says the eggs are then picked up by the grading station at least once a week or more, depending on the size of the operation.

There a two grading stations in the Province, both being in Calgary, he says.

"That's where they're washed and inspected, graded according to their weight and that's how you get an extra large, jumbo or medium size egg."

He says the eggs then go to the grocery store or restaurants, and it typically takes a week from the time the egg is laid to get onto the shelves.

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Video: How a Desire to Lead Brought This Wheat Breeder to Canada

Gurcharn Singh Brar is a wheat breeder whose path meandered from the breadbaskets of Punjab, India, to the sprawling fields of the Prairies. In a candid conversation, Brar shared insights into his journey, the challenges faced, and the undying passion that fuels his quest for better crops.

It all began with a childhood rooted in the wheat fields of Punjab, where agriculture isn’t just a livelihood but a way of life. His fascination with wheat and its potential led him to pursue a bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences at Punjab Agricultural University. It was during this time that he encountered the spectre of rust diseases, particularly stripe rust, which plagued the region’s wheat crops. Determined to combat this menace, he set his sights on a journey that would take him across continents.

Venturing abroad for his graduate studies, he found himself in Saskatchewan at the Crop Development Centre (CDC), working under the mentorship of renowned researchers like Randy Kutcher and Pierre Hucl. Here, he delved deep into the world of wheat genetics, focusing on stripe rust resistance — a quest that would shape his academic pursuits for years to come.

After completing his master’s and Ph.D. in six and a half years, he embarked on a professional journey that would see him traverse academia and research. From brief stints as a research officer to landing his dream faculty position at the University of British Columbia’s Plant Science program, his career trajectory was marked by a strong drive to make a difference in the world of wheat.

Despite the allure of British Columbia’s unique agricultural landscape, he found himself wanting to return to the vast expanses of the Prairies, where wheat reigns supreme. He recently returned to the Prairies and is the new wheat breeder at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.

“The opportunity to lead an established wheat breeding program at the University of Alberta was a dream come true. With the necessary resources and infrastructure in place, I’m excited to drive innovation and develop high-yielding wheat varieties tailored to the unique conditions of northern Canada,” he says.

Brar, one of Seed World Canada‘s 2024 Next-Gen Leaders, has become known for identifying novel sources of resistance to priority diseases and his efforts in developing wheat germplasm with multiple disease-resistant traits.

In addition to his groundbreaking research, Brar is committed to mentoring the next generation of agricultural scientists.

“I believe in nurturing talent and empowering students to pursue their passions,” he says. “Watching my students grow and thrive in their research endeavours is hugely rewarding.”

As he looks ahead, Brar’s vision for the future of wheat breeding is clear: “My number one target is to develop high-yielding wheat varieties adapted to the northern climates of Canada. By focusing on early maturity and strong straw traits, we can maximize yield potential while ensuring resilience to environmental challenges.”

His decision to also join the Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye, and Triticale (PGDC) executive as member-at-large came from a desire to play an even more important role in the world of Canadian cereals.