Pegasus

Poultry farming is booming in Burkina Faso due to increased demand for meat and eggs. A quick overview of poultry farming in Burkina Faso shows that it is characterized by Private poultry production initiatives, mostly of modest sizes (70% have a production of less than 1,000 hens per year).  The production of national eggs below the needs can only meet 60% of the demand, and the rest is supplemented by imports from Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. There is insufficient consultation between poultry farmers at the national level; an institutional framework exists, but its functioning does not meet the expectations of poultry farmers.

Two main types of poultry farming are practiced: village poultry farming, based on the breeding of local breeds according to an extensive system, and "modern" poultry farming, based on the breeding of imported breeds. Village poultry farming is practiced in rural areas. It plays economic functions (poultry meat for consumption, table eggs), social cohesion (income-generating activity for women, social prestige), and cultural functions (use of local breed chickens and white-shelled eggs in traditional ceremonies). The shops and restaurants throughout the country are supplied by these village farms, whose meat quality is sought-after. Modern poultry farming (purebred or broiler chickens) is purely economic. Burkina Faso produces about thirty million head of poultry per year. According to the Directorate of Statistics, in 2021, Burkina Faso's flock numbered 76,359,174 poultry, i.e., 69,267,052 head of hens and 12,092,122 head of guinea fowl. Ducks and turkeys should be added to this number. The same year, Burkina Faso exported more than 110,000 head of poultry. The rest was used for local consumption. Considering that Ouagadougou alone absorbs more than 100,000 chickens daily, it is easy to understand why gallinaceous chickens are appreciated nationally.

Urban areas are becoming increasingly crowded, with limited land for traditional agriculture and poultry farming. However, the demand for poultry products, such as eggs and meat, remains high. Urbanization can have several negative impacts on raising chickens. These include the following:

1. Urban areas typically have limited space, making allocating sufficient land for traditional chicken farming challenging. This limitation can restrict the ability to raise chickens in large numbers or to allow them adequate space for natural behavior.
2. Chicken farming in urban areas may increase the risk of disease transmission among chickens and between chickens and humans.
3. If not professionally managed, urban chicken flocks can be at risk for avian influenza outbreaks, seriously affecting human health.
4. Urban areas may attract predators such as rats, raccoons, and stray dogs, which can threaten chickens. The presence of predators can increase stress levels among chickens and lead to increased mortality rates.

Urban chicken farming requires careful planning, adherence to regulations, and mitigation measures to minimize its negative effects on the environment and nearby communities. Vertical and precision poultry farming would solve many of these issues.

We are introducing vertical close-cage poultry farming designed to optimize space and resources. The initiative is highly efficient, conserving land, feed, and labor while boosting production. The controlled environment ensures year-round uninterrupted output while safeguarding the welfare of birds. Our vertical farming includes automated feeding and watering systems and stringent protocols to prevent disease transmission and ensure animal health. The most apparent advantage of vertical farming is the efficient use of space. By stacking poultry cages and enclosures vertically, a relatively small footprint can support many birds. This is crucial in densely populated urban areas where horizontal space is at a premium. In addition, we are integrating precise control over environmental conditions and data-driven management, which is a real-time monitoring and analysis of bird health and behavior, cage temperature, lighting, ventilation, humidity, and production metrics to inform decision-making. The monitoring is performed remotely using sensors, digital cameras, and phone apps, ensuring a consistent supply of poultry products to meet urban demands. The raising of AI technology and remote monitoring offers an incredible opportunity to upscale vertical farming and poultry production.

We will use monitoring technology and AI-powered technology to optimize vertical farming as follows:

1. We are deploying sensors, phone apps, and monitoring systems to continuously collect data on environmental conditions within the poultry farm, including temperature, humidity, air quality, and lighting. We analyze this data in real time to adjust heating, ventilation, cooling, and lighting systems to create optimal conditions for poultry health and productivity.
2. We are utilizing a digitalized health monitoring protocol to collect and analyze data on poultry health, behavior, and environmental conditions to predict disease outbreaks or health issues before they occur. Monitoring subtle changes in behavior or physiological indicators will alert us about potential health risks, enabling proactive intervention and disease management strategies.
3. We are introducing an automated feeding and watering system that adapts to and responds to bird feeding and watering patterns, preferences, and needs. We will optimize feed formulations and delivery schedules based on factors such as the poultry flock's age, weight, and growth rates, reducing feed waste and improving feed efficiency.
4. We will use cameras or sensors to help monitor poultry behavior, movement, and social interactions in real time. We will analyze this data to detect abnormal behavior patterns, signs of distress, or aggression within the flock, enabling early intervention and improved animal welfare.

Our proposal for sustainable vertical poultry farming offers a transformative solution for the industry. It addresses pressing concerns around animal welfare, environmental impact, and product quality. By adopting this innovative approach, we can create a more resilient and ethical food system that benefits farmers, consumers, and the environment. PEGASUS is poised to disrupt the poultry industry with its innovative approach to Vertical Poultry Farming. By prioritizing sustainability, animal welfare, and product quality, we aim to capture a significant market share and become a trusted provider of premium poultry products.  

As a reminder, the poultry sector (eggs, meat) in Burkina Faso is characterized by a numerically large herd estimated at 78 million head, more than 95% of which is dominated by traditional poultry farming. Despite this numerical importance, poultry production is far from covering national needs. Indeed, a survey conducted in 2020 by the Ministry of Animal and Fisheries Resources (MRAH) estimated the consumption needs of the cities of Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso at 58,000 birds per day, i.e. an annual volume of 20,345,000 heads. With this growing demand for poultry products in Burkina Faso's urban areas, the national supply is encountering difficulties in covering needs, hence the propensity to fill the gap by importing frozen poultry meat. It is easy to understand the multiple seizures/destructions carried out by the veterinary services. 

In the poultry sector, Burkina Faso was best known for its local chicken, 'bicycle chicken', which is more of a broiler chicken. Modern production of laying hens is only beginning to develop, but it is not enough. As our climate is very hot, to develop the sector, we need to invest in buildings to control the temperature issue. There is also the question of chicken feed because poultry farmers are forced to import taxed and expensive pre-mixes.

Our model is for business-to-business and consumers in Ouagadougou, the capital city of Ouagadougou. Our potential customers are cooperatives (poultry buyers/dealers), delicatessens, chicken and egg sellers, supermarkets, private individuals, hotels and restaurants, shops, and smallholders. This diverse range of potential customers is found in Burkina Faso's different socio-economic strains. Our consumers are people living in cities and suburban areas. We are targeting small urban poultry farmers and backyard chicken-raising amateurs who might be interested in learning and adapting our poultry farming model. We aim to reach out to young entrepreneurs who can use the model and scale it up. We will address the local market's urban poultry production and supply gap. Our year-round production capacity will supply businesses, including restaurants, butcheries, hotels, shops, and grocery stores, with high-quality poultry products like meat and eggs. As the initiative grows, we will expand and reach our cities and export chicken meat and eggs to neighboring countries (Cote D'Ivoire, Togo, Benin, and Ghana. Our initiative also aims to provide business opportunities by teaching the model and providing technical support. Also, we are providing job opportunities associated with side businesses generated by the initiative, such as poultry vendors and egg sellers.

The project team comprises a veterinary doctor, an Information and Technology expert, a marketing and market prospection specialist, a poultry farmer, and a social entrepreneur. As natives of the city of Ouagadougou, where they grew up, live and work, the team members are well-positioned to implement the project. The team has the experience and the expertise to run the project and to scale it up.

The project started four months ago. We conceived and fabricated wooden cages, stacked them, and finalized the construction of the vertical poultry houses, which contain automated feeding and watering systems. We have integrated two monitoring cameras, humidity, ventilation, and temperature sensors. We plan to integrate our digitalized health monitoring protocol into AI programming. The AI algorithms are being integrated based on the data collected using the bird health protocols to monitor and predict health status, project prophylaxis measures, and nutritional needs. We have 166 birds freely roaming in four-story chicken houses.  We are rapidly expanding to triple the flock with the aim of reaching four hundred chickens by the end of 2024.

We are looking for technical and programmatic support to advance our solution. It requires more intuitive technical capacity and specific expertise to improve the integration of the remote monitoring, modeling, and prediction components. In addition, we are looking for assistance in promoting and marketing our solution and making it more visible. 

Poultry production is one of the most profitable sectors of animal husbandry. There is a lot of competition. Well-experienced and well-established breeders exist; some are in highly industrialized production in Burkina Faso. However, our competitive advantage lies in introducing verticalization and precision as an innovation in urban environments where space is scarce, the environment is restricted and where there are many challenges in production in industrial quantities, profitability, and maintenance of quality products. The introduction of digitalization, autonomy combined with verticalization, and precision of poultry production allows our initiative to ensure efficiency in the operation of the farm in terms of resources and time. It also makes it possible to detect and treat animals in real time, avoid epidemics, and optimize poultry feed. Few or no initiatives combine technology, sparse management, and digitalization of health protocols linked to artificial intelligence algorithms for predictions. The strength of our farm lies in the capabilities of our multidisciplinary team and the team members' great expertise in production, financial management, computerization, and marketing. 

Our solution revolutionizes the poultry industry by offering small—to medium-sized poultry farm owners the capacity to improve their productivity and the quality of their poultry. It is a resilient farming solution with the potential for replication in several settings and meeting the high demand for poultry products in urban and semi-urban areas. Our initiative will leverage the numerous benefits of new technologies, which include increased profitability, improved animal welfare, better working conditions, better production monitoring (e.g., remote monitoring, access to real-time data, and push notification), and better provision of input and information in a timely manner for quick action when needed. We will introduce automation with video surveillance and remote sensing, two major aspects of digitalization.

For the poultry sector, Burkina Faso was best known for its local chicken, 'bicycle chicken, which is more of a broiler chicken. Modern production of laying hens is only beginning to develop, but it is not enough. As our climate is very hot, to develop the sector, we need to invest in buildings to control the issue of temperatures. There is also the question of chicken feed because we are forced to import taxed and expensive pre-mixes. That is why we are not competitive in the face of competition from neighboring countries that flood the Burkinabe market with eggs. Our solution integrates advanced technology to improve poultry farming, including mobile technology (mobile, app), monitoring devices (sensors and cameras), and AI algorithms to optimize poultry production. We are also innovating with precision in poultry farming with data-driven management and a design that accommodates mall space and restricted land space. Our theory of change is as follows:

1. Inputs/Resources:
   • Availability of space for vertical structures (rooftops, vertical gardens, etc.).
   • Initial investment for infrastructure setup (vertical coops, feeding systems, waste management, etc.).
   • Access to appropriate technology for monitoring and managing the poultry environment.
   • Skilled personnel for husbandry, management, and technical support.
   • Supply chain partnerships for sourcing feed, veterinary services, and equipment.
2. Activities:
   • Design and construction of vertical poultry coops and associated infrastructure.
   • Acquisition and installation of necessary equipment such as automated feeding systems, water supply, and waste management.
   • Selection and procurement of poultry breeds suitable for vertical raising.
   • Training of staff in poultry management, disease prevention, and sustainable practices.
   • Establishment of partnerships with local communities, businesses, and authorities for support and collaboration.
   • Continuous monitoring and adjustment of environmental conditions within the vertical structures.
3. Outputs:
   • Functional vertical poultry raising systems in urban areas.
   • Increased availability of locally produced poultry products.
   • Employment opportunities for urban residents in poultry management and related services.
   • Reduction in transportation costs and carbon emissions associated with poultry supply chains.
   • Utilization of underutilized urban spaces for food production, contributing to food security.
   • Improved waste management through the utilization of poultry waste for composting or energy generation.
4. Outcomes:
   • Improved access to fresh and nutritious poultry products for urban residents.
   • Economic empowerment of individuals involved in the vertical poultry raising venture.
   • Strengthened local food systems and resilience against external shocks to food supply chains.
   • Increased awareness and adoption of sustainable agricultural practices in urban settings.
   • Reduction in the environmental footprint of poultry production through localized and resource-efficient systems.
   • Enhanced community engagement and cohesion through participation in urban agriculture initiatives.
5. Impact:
   • Improved health and well-being of urban populations through access to locally produced, fresh poultry products.
   • Mitigation of environmental degradation associated with conventional poultry production and distribution.
   • Contribution to the overall sustainability and resilience of urban food systems.
   • Potential replication and scaling of the vertical poultry raising model in other urban areas, leading to broader societal and environmental benefits.

Our solution will allow us to offer very competitive and high-quality products. Eggs will be sold at unit cost for the wafer at 2500 – 3000 FCFA, and poultry will sell at 2500 FCFA per unit. Our prices will be studied semi-annually to adapt to market prices, supply, and demand. A careful and dynamic adjustment will allow our operation to respond to demand in time and quality. Our service will consider all business opportunities, parties, ceremonies, and drills to promote and increase sales.  For the broilers, we aim to raise a flock of flock chicks to full-grown chickens every three to four months for poultry meat. In parallel, we aim to get 100 layers to produce 600,000 eggs every seven months. We are using a performance improvement plan and a monitoring and evaluation plan to measure and evaluate our solution. We will use the following indicators: 1) number of chickens raised, 2) number of eggs produced, 3) quarterly sales, 4) customer satisfaction, 5) reviews and likes.

We aim to maximize the productivity of the most productive and profitable animal industry sector, the poultry sector. We are introducing sensors for monitoring and real-time alerts through smartphones. The initiative uses an efficient animal production technique for poultry feeding and monitoring, allowing the animals to be fed promptly and sparingly. We also aim to improve chicken health and welfare using stringent bird health monitoring protocols paired with artificial intelligence algorithms to predict disease outbreaks and respond timely and appropriately. We will use automation with video surveillance with electronic sensors integrated with video surveillance by the camera (placed in strategic locations on the poultry farm) to replace manual work on farms regarding repetitive tasks such as poultry welfare checks. Data collection and analyses will be used to monitor animal behavior to provide the best early detection system.

We will integrate sensor networks of several tiny, low-cost devices and logically self-organizing ad hoc systems. The sensor network monitors the animals' health parameters and collects and transmits the information to other connection nodes. Sensors that collect data such as temperature, pH, etc., receive much data, so transmitting data at regular intervals is possible. These new sensor technologies will be useful for monitoring animal health and behavior. Remote sensing introduces a power alert and warning system and automation. Sensors (placed at feeders) will help streamline farm workers' data collection process, which results in precision poultry farming. The sensors will help estimate the weight and measure uniformity of growth (electronic sensors/sensors placed under several bed scales will automatically record the weight of hens when hens stand on a bed scale - when hens and roosters move around the barn). They will also help address labor issues and improve food security. The automation systems consist of a control panel, a programmable control manager, a scale, a communication interface, and all the necessary equipment to organize the feeding process and supply food to animals of each age group. Computer-controlled feeders have many advantages over traditional feeding methods.

The video surveillance component has already been tested and is operational. For the remote sensing and automation component, before starting the implementation, we will test and refine the computer system and the use of sensors over three weeks. The remote sensing, automation, and video surveillance will all be connected by the computer system to a computer with control and monitoring options from smartphones (mobile phones) if an internet connection is available; otherwise, the system will work perfectly offline (off-grid).

Currently, we use commercially available temperature and humidity monitors with cell phone functionality enabled through mobile apps. A push notification is sent to the farm manager's phone or mailbox once the chicken cages' temperature, ventilation, or humidity deviates from the preset ranges. We also use the dashboard to visualize the data and make appropriate decisions. Our AI algorithms allow projections and predictions using a digitalized bird health protocol that we have developed. 

Five people are working on the solution: two full-time and three part-time. Two contractors provide bird-feeding products and supplies. The full-time employees are the veterinarian and the executive director. The computer engineer, the logistic expert, and the finance advisor are part-time employees but provide substantial effort to the farm activities. In developing our solution, a key point has been to start from the beginning by Investing in employee training. We ensure that employees are well-trained and motivated to improve efficiency and productivity. The team members are taking poultry courses, and we have hired a farm keeper and a manager

We have been working on the solution for the last two years. But we built the farm and started poultry production only four months ago.  It took time to conceptualize the solution, build partnerships with local suppliers, and secure funding. We evaluated the feasibility of vertical and high-tech poultry farming considering factors like location, regulations, competition, and consumer preferences. Since the solution's inception, we have focused on producing high-quality poultry products while minimizing environmental impact. We are now confident that the farm can leverage advanced technologies, optimize production, reduce costs, and improve decision-making by leveraging data analytics.

The project team is diverse and very dynamic. It comprises experts from various fields, forming a perfect complementarity ideal for implementing our innovative livestock project integrating new technologies. Our team members' skills range from capabilities in animal husbandry, animal health, computer sciences, marketing, product promotion, and new customer acquisition to accounting and financial management. The team members' entrepreneurial spirit and the combined expertise of communication and supply chain logistics constitute an indispensable and instrumental contribution and an asset for the execution and rapid scaling of the project. The team members are natives of Ouagadougou, where they grew up and still live. They are knowledgeable of the context and are members of the local community. The embers of the teams are as follows:

Dr. Malgoubri Mathieu is a veterinary doctor who worked at the Ministry of Animal Resources. He is also a veterinary research teacher who has trained more than 1700 veterinary nurses in the animal health sector. His expertise in animal husbandry and animal health is crucial for the success and scale-up of this vertical poultry farm. Dr. Malgoubri will establish the bird health monitoring protocol for the farm. He will care for the animal's physical and mental health and regularly monitor the farm's operation.

Mr. Kaboré Patrick is a computer engineer. He is an ingenious computer scientist and an outstanding designer who has garnered professional awards for his inventions and work in computer science, especially in sensors, software, and remote sensing. His 17 years of professional career makes him an expert in designing, implementing, monitoring, and scaling up the current computerized mixed breeding initiative. Mr. Kabore Patrick will set up the computer system and software to allow the sensors to function optimally and provide real-time information for executing remote sensing and automation tasks. 

Mr. Isidore Kaboré is a sales agent and logistics expert with over ten years of experience. He has extensive experience in corporate communications. He has a master's in design engineering, logistics, and supply chain insurance training.   Mr. Isidore will oversee the logistics aspects of logistics, prospecting, acquiring, and retaining new customers, supplier relations, and operations at the input and output levels. 

Mrs. Adèle Missiri Kompaoré is a finance expert. In her long career at Ouagadougou's highway department, she has managed dozens of projects and set up accounting management mechanisms, procurement procedures, and guides for managing public finances.

Mr. Achille Kaboré is an expert in public health and is passionate about agribusiness. Mr. Kabore is highly experienced in product promotion, social marketing, and the use of social media to attract and secure customers.

Our business model for vertical and high-tech poultry farming includes the following:

I.A Value Proposition:

We aim to produce high-quality, fresh, healthy poultry products using sustainable and efficient methods. We will utilize vertical farming techniques to minimize land use and environmental impact. 

II. Target Market:

We target health-conscious consumers seeking premium poultry products and environmentally aware consumers supporting sustainable agriculture. Furthermore, we aim at local restaurants, grocery stores, and food companies seeking fresh and reliable poultry products.

III. Revenue Streams:

We primarily sell poultry meat and eggs to consumers, restaurants, and food service companies. Additionally, we will provide consulting services to other farmers. We will coach young entrepreneurs interested in our solution.

IV. Essential components of our solution

1. Market Research: We have conducted thorough market research to understand our target market's demand for poultry products. 
2. Location Selection: We have chosen a suitable location for our vertical farm, considering proximity to markets, availability of water and electricity), and zoning regulations.
3. Design and Construction: We are introducing staked cages in our vertical design, and we will ensure the facility is designed for optimal space utilization and efficient workflow.
4. Technology Integration: We integrate innovative technologies for monitoring and managing various aspects of poultry farming, including temperature, humidity, ventilation, lighting, feeding, and watering. We include sensors, video monitoring, and data analytics to optimize operations.
5. Breed Selection: We select high-quality poultry breeds that are well-suited for indoor farming and have desirable traits such as fast growth, high feed conversion efficiency, and disease resistance.
6. Feed Sourcing and Formulation: We source high-quality feed formulations optimized for the nutritional needs of the poultry breeds being raised. Furthermore, we explore sustainable and cost-effective feed ingredients to minimize production costs.
7. Animal Welfare and Health Management: We will implement rigorous animal welfare standards and biosecurity measures to ensure the health and well-being of the chickens. 
8. Sales and Distribution Channels: We will establish distribution channels to supply poultry products to various markets, including retailers, restaurants, and direct-to-consumer channels through online sales and home delivery. 
9. Brand Building and Marketing: We will build a strong brand identity around your vertical farming sustainability, quality, and innovation. We will use digital marketing, social media, and events to raise awareness and attract customers.
10. Regulatory Compliance: Our team will ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and standards governing poultry farming, food safety, animal welfare, and environmental protection. 
11. Financial Management: We plan to develop a sound financial plan, including capital investment, operating expenses, revenue projections, and profitability analysis. In addition, we will monitor financial performance closely and adjust as needed to ensure long-term viability and growth.

V. Metrics       

 We have developed a monitoring and evaluation to monitor the following:

1. Production volume and yield.
2. Feed conversion ratio and feed cost per unit of production.
3. Bird health and mortality rates.
4. Customer satisfaction and retention rates.
5. Revenue growth and profitability.

Our performance monitoring system is agile and dynamic, with a weekly data review using a data visualization of the indicators.

We plan to be profitable in the first year of operation and be able to self-fund our operations and procurement. We will secure additional revenue through coaching and consulting to become financially stable. We have explored government programs, grants, and private funding opportunities to support expansion or improvement projects. In parallel, we will try to secure small loans from farmers' union banks to upscale our initiative. 

Our solution integrates efficient feeding, breeding, and waste management systems. We monitor and control environmental conditions to ensure optimal bird health and productivity. Additionally, we collect and analyze data to optimize production and reduce costs.  We are looking into local feed sources, negotiating with suppliers, and planning to produce our own feed. 

We will establish a robust financial management system to track expenses, revenues, and profitability. Set realistic financial goals and regularly monitor your farm's financial performance against these goals. Adjust your strategies as needed to ensure long-term financial sustainability. We will develop a strong brand and marketing strategy to increase product demand and prices. We plan to gradually increase the number of birds or expand the farm to increase revenue. Our current cost structure is as follows:

1. Initial investment costs (e.g., infrastructure, equipment, technology).
2. Ongoing operating costs (e.g., feed, labor, energy, maintenance).
3. Marketing and sales expenses.
4. Research and development expenses for continuous improvement.

Our farm will optimize production and reduce costs by leveraging data analytics and automation. We aim to decrease procurement and operation costs using periodic market analysis to understand market dynamics, adapt procurement and supplies, and diversify sourcing and other purchases accordingly. So far, we have built partnerships with poultry farmer associations to exchange ideas about cost-saving, especially in procurement and feeding. For the last three months of operation, we have reduced water consumption, optimized feed utilization, and implemented better disease control. Using our bird protocol, we have successfully prevented diseases and death of the birds so far. 

We will build strong relationships with your customers, including retailers, restaurants, wholesalers, and direct consumers. Provide excellent customer service, respond promptly to inquiries and feedback, and consider implementing loyalty programs or incentives to retain customers. We will develop relationships with local restaurants, grocery stores, and wholesalers to increase sales. In the short run, we will improve and maintain the quality of poultry production and explore and secure new clients, provide better customer service to maintain clients. Similarly, we have explored opportunities to diversify your revenue streams beyond traditional poultry products. This could include selling value-added products such as processed meats, eggs, organic or specialty poultry products, and by-products like feathers or manure for composting. Furthermore, we will continuously monitor key performance indicators and invest in research and development to improve efficiency, productivity, and sustainability.

Lastly, we are implementing a risk management plan to identify potential risks to your farm's financial sustainability, such as disease outbreaks, market fluctuations, regulatory changes, and natural disasters. We will develop risk management strategies to mitigate these risks, including insurance coverage, contingency plans, and diversification of production.