Developing Impact and Reach
The IEF is committed to improving global nutrition through egg consumption. Eggs are nutrient-dense, providing essential proteins, vitamins, and minerals crucial for all aspects of human health, development, and growth. Through collaboration and partnership, IEF has enhanced nutritional programmes, promoting the inclusion of eggs in diets. The following programme demonstrates the work of the IEF, and the impact eggs have made to the diets of nutritionally vulnerable children.
Honduras - HOI
In the Agalta Valley of Honduras, the IEF works with OneEgg and Honduras Outreach International (HOI) to support the First 1,000 Days of Life programme. The programme provides eggs to expectant mothers during their final trimester and continues until their child reaches three years old. Its aim is to help participating families include at least one egg a day in their diets, providing mothers and young children with consistent access to high-quality protein and essential nutrients.
To help the programme reach more families, the IEF supported the construction of a new layer barn, increasing onsite capacity from 400 to 3,000 layers. Completed in late 2024, the barn includes Big Dutchman layer equipment and HATO lighting.
The first H&N-donated flock of 1,500 layers arrived in February 2025, followed by a second flock of 1,500 in March 2026. The barn is now fully operational, significantly increasing local egg production to support the programme and the families it serves.
The people behind the programme
Hear from a participating mother and the programme’s nutritionist, with a glimpse of Claudio, the farmer supporting egg production in the Agalta Valley.
Building on this progress, a second layer barn will be developed in 2026, further increasing egg production and enabling the programme to reach more families.
The IEF is also working with HOI to develop a smaller barn at the local HOI School. This will provide nutritious eggs for pupils up to Year 9 and serve as a practical training facility for the wider community.
This expansion has been made possible through the expertise, equipment and support contributed by IEF partners and donors.
Programme Impact
Honduras Outreach International
Expanding local egg production to improve access to nutritious food for families and children.
Data from 2018 - 2025
3,000
Layers supporting local egg production
606,753
Eggs delivered through the First 1,000 Days of Life Programme
714
Family members reached through the programme
132
Families who have participated in the programme
Blessman, South Africa
In early 2025, the IEF began its efforts with Blessman International to strengthen their comprehensive child feeding programme in South Africa. Operating via 11 hubs and reaching around 50,000 children across 365-day care centres, the initiative is now integrating egg production to enhance nutrition and provide long-term sustainability.
A dedicated layer facility is under construction. IEF’s funding is contributing to equipping the barn with remaining resources directed toward feed and production costs. This scalable model aims to provide Blessman day care centres with self-susta.ining sources of high-quality local nutrition in the form of eggs.
Programme Impact
Blessman International
Expanding local egg production to support daily nutrition programmes for children and families.
2019
Mountain View egg farm established
5,466
Layer capacity supporting daily meal programmes
1,750
Day care centres reached
40,000 +
Children receiving nutritious meals
Eswatini
The IEF takes pride in its collaboration with the charity organisation Heart for Africa, ongoing since 2015. Together, in partnership with Egg Farmers of Canada, we have provided support to Project Canaan, a sustainable farm and “whole of childhood” orphanage in Eswatini.
In 2015, an egg farm was constructed to establish a reliable source of high-quality protein specifically for the children residing in the orphanage and their caretakers. In addition to aiding the children within the orphanage, Project Canaan extends its support to nutritionally vulnerable children across rural Eswatini, providing unique access to high-quality protein through a national egg distribution programme which they coordinate.
Through our partner Dr Fabien De Meester IEF was able to provide technology to extend the shelf life of boiled eggs from days to weeks. By incorporating specific organic compounds during the boiling process, the internal membrane of the egg, just inside the shell, is sealed. This advancement increases the eggs shelf life to approximately 30 to 60 days at 30°C in local conditions. This technological breakthrough enabled the successful expansion of the feeding programme’s distribution network,
Project Canaan has distributed millions of eggs, benefiting around 4,500 children on a weekly basis, made possible through a network of 32 feeding stations situated in schools and churches.
The IEF remains dedicated to supporting Project Canaan through ongoing training and mentoring. We strive to help maintain a viable business model, providing training and education to local Swazi personnel working on the farm. By doing so, we ensure the long-term success and impact of this important initiative.
Programme Impact
Project Canaan
Supporting child nutrition and long-term community impact through sustainable local egg production.
2015
Project Canaan egg farm established
5,000
Layer capacity supporting nutrition programmes
6,961
Children receiving eggs each week