Chickens Improve Cyprus's Ecology

Retired laying hens are helping to grow olive crops on Cyprus's eco-farms. Chickens that have reached 2 years of age stop laying eggs and become a burden for poultry farms. However, their ability to destroy harmful insects has attracted the attention of Cypriot farmers engaged in organic farming. Hundreds of chickens, destined for slaughter due to their old age, have been redirected to olive groves as part of the "Kot-Kot" agricultural project.

Here, in certified eco-fields, in free-range mode, the birds destroy the larvae of the olive fly, the main pest of Mediterranean plantations. Simultaneously, weeds are removed and the soil is enriched with chicken droppings. This leads to an increase in yield and an increase in the polyphenol content in olive fruits. As a result, olive oil produced in such farms is distinguished by high antioxidant properties.

In addition, retired chickens are able to process mountains of food waste, turning it into natural fertilizer. This reduces the amount of methane released by organic matter decomposing in landfills.

Mr. Netien, the owner of one of the largest eco-farms in Cyprus, who holds the world record for producing olive oil with the highest polyphenol content, believes that the "Kot-Kot" technology leads to an increase in the region's biodiversity. And the created ecosystems are ready to withstand very high temperatures and prolonged droughts, characteristic of the island of Cyprus.