A New Center for the "Incredible" Egg!

After lagging behind for a couple of decades, Iowa once again leads the nation in egg production. Nearly 57 million layers produce 14.25 billion eggs each year — more than twice as many as any other state.

Earlier this year, the Iowa Egg Council (IEC) made a $2 million gift commitment to establish an endowed egg industry program within Iowa State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Kevin Vinchattle, Blair Van Zetten and Mark Friedow, and the other members of the IEC want to be certain Iowa egg producers retain their number one position within the United States and worldwide.

They believe it is vitally important to explore new uses for eggs and develop new and existing markets. They are also eager to encourage environmentally friendly production practices and get the word out about the egg’s nutritional benefits.

“For a number of years, a strong relationship with Iowa State has remained a top priority for us,” says Kevin, IEC executive director. “In the late 1980s, Iowa began regaining its egg industry leadership; during the next decade we started working with Iowa State and getting students and faculty in tune with what we were doing. What Iowa State does for Iowa’s egg producers benefits everyone.”

“Through all of these ups and downs, Iowa State has remained one of the top universities for poultry,” says Blair, board chair of IEC and president of Iowa-based Oskaloosa Food Products Corporation. “Research done at Iowa State helps consumers understand the value of the egg. As the population of the world grows and there are food shortages, we’re teaming up and taking advantage of the resources of the state to produce the best product at an economical price.

“Iowa is very fortunate because of its natural resources,” Blair says. “We take the product from the farm, then put manure back into the land and start the process all over again.”

Research is critical, says Kevin. The key is careful management of resources and applying scientific principles to egg production. “We looked at what we saw happening at Iowa State and we wanted to develop a perpetual source of funding,” he says. “Our goal is to get a $10 million fund in place within the college, so they don’t have to rely solely on government funding. It’s unique that the industry is committing its own money to make this happen.”

“We see a lot of research that needs to be done in egg production,” says Mark, IEC board member and administrator for Sparboe Farms in Jefferson, Iowa. “Iowa State can be a center for research, outreach and education for the egg industry. It can be a clearinghouse for research throughout the country, and a resource for producers, processors and other universities.

“Our objective is to produce a safe, high-quality food product for the consumer,” Mark says, “and Iowa State is critical long-term — not only for the research, but to disseminate information to the public in an organized fashion.”

Through the new center, the IEC also hopes to bolster egg industry profitability and competitiveness, and to invest in such areas as developing new egg products, disease diagnosis, food safety marketing, distribution and positive environmental programs.

“Iowa State University has a worldwide reputation, and Iowa is the leading egg producing and processing state,” says Kevin. “It makes perfect sense for us to work together.”