Transport Genie captures real-time data to improve animal welfare during transport
GUELPH, Ont., Canada, and SCHÖTZ, Switzerland – Canadian agri-tech innovator
Transport Genie Ltd. has teamed up with
Prodavi SA, one of the largest integrated poultry companies in Switzerland, to conduct field trials using Transport Genie smart sensors on poultry transport trucks.
Beginning in June 2019, Transport Genie sensors will be installed on Prodavi trucks used to haul day-old chicks from the company’s hatchery to its network of contract rearing farms across Switzerland. Transport Genie sensors monitor microclimate conditions inside poultry and livestock trailers and employ blockchain technology to store and share that information with truck drivers and other users along the supply chain. Transport Genie provides accurate real-time data to drivers who can then take immediate action to resolve any issues before they become a serious problem.
“Protecting farmed animal welfare is a global concern and we’re very pleased to partner with one of Europe’s leading companies to advance Transport Genie sensor technology,” said Joel Sotomayor, President and CEO of Transport Genie Ltd.
Prodavi transports over 1.5 million day-old layer chicks (DOCs) to poultry farms each year, then buys them back at 18 weeks old and sells them to production farms where they begin laying eggs. The company also transports over 15 million hatching eggs across Switzerland each year.
Switzerland is recognized as a world leader in promoting farmed animal welfare, and Swiss consumers have shown they’re willing to pay more for locally produced meat, poultry and eggs from producers who follow the highest standards. Therefore, ensuring that the animals in your care arrive at their destination healthy and safe is a critical ethical and business concern, said André Hodel, CEO of Prodavi SA.
“For us, it’s really important that we have full transparency, so we can show our customers that we’re doing right by the animals at every stage of their lives. It’s about trust,” said Hodel.
Until now, monitoring conditions in livestock and poultry trailers has been limited to visual inspections and logging data like transport times and trailer temperatures that could only be analyzed after the journey.
“With Transport Genie, we can track those details in real time, so the driver knows what’s going on in the truck at all times and can react very quickly to correct any problems,” said Hodel. “Our company has always been driven to be ahead of the curve when it comes to animal welfare. Transport Genie is an exciting innovation that will allow us to ensure that our chickens are comfortable and safe during transport, provide healthier poultry to farmers, and promote traceability in the food system. It’s a win-win for everybody.”
Transport Genie is a wireless system that uses a network of smart sensors placed throughout a livestock hauler to monitor variables such as temperature and humidity, as well as driver behaviours such as braking and acceleration. The sensors can also be used to control devices such as cooling fans and drinkers. Transport Genie’s rugged modular design is easily customizable and can be integrated with other systems to meet the needs of different species and different types and sizes of transport trailers.
“Transport Genie captures the data that will give livestock transporters, farmers and food processors the information they need to make informed decisions,” said Sotomayor. “By working with industry leaders like Prodavi, we’re aiming to improve the agricultural system for the benefit of animals, farmers and consumers worldwide.”
Source : transportgenie