Hunland at the ESG Club Hungary Conference – Agriculture on the Path to Sustainability
Hunland was represented by Péter Hencz, Managing Director of Hunland Trans Kft., at the “Agriculture on the Path to Sustainability – Challenges and Shared Solutions” conference organised by ESG Club Hungary in cooperation with the UBM Group. The event aimed to spark an open, data-driven dialogue on some of the most pressing sustainability issues in agriculture: animal welfare, regulatory pressure, economic realities and technological innovation. One of the key sessions of the day was the roundtable discussion titled “Animal Welfare vs. Sustainability – Friends or Foes?”, where Péter presented Hunland’s practical experience and proven solutions.
Animal Welfare – European Expectations in a Global Market
Péter highlighted that current EU animal-welfare legislation already provides a high level of protection, and Hunland not only complies with these standards but exceeds them in several areas. As one of Europe’s largest live-animal transport operators – completing more than 10,000 transports annually within Hungary, across the EU and to several third countries – we see clearly that real improvements in welfare come from the consistent application of existing rules.
He also emphasised that upcoming EU proposals introducing further restrictions may significantly increase costs and risk undermining the competitiveness of European livestock in a global market where standards vary widely. If regulation becomes detached from practical realities, markets may shift towards regions with lower welfare requirements and much longer transport distances, ultimately resulting in higher stress and a larger carbon footprint – the opposite of what stricter rules aim to achieve.
For this reason, Hunland is actively working to raise welfare standards globally:
- our veterinarians accompany shipments and train receiving-country staff,
- and we collaborate with several animal-welfare organisations to improve local practices.
Responsible, Targeted Antibiotic Use
As Péter explained, the idea of “zero antibiotics” may sound appealing but is neither realistic nor responsible. At Hunland, prevention is the foundation of animal health: increases in antibiotic use always point to underlying technological, hygiene or feeding issues that must be addressed.
Our preventive approach includes:
- strict hygiene and quarantine protocols,
- hygienic livestock transport,
- all-in/all-out systems,
- robotic barn cleaning,
- structured vaccination programmes,
- modern housing technology and high-quality feed.
Water quality received special attention: several of our farms use our owned GB Water electrolysis-based technology, providing environmentally friendly disinfection without hazardous chemicals — the same system used in several Hungarian hospitals and in the municipal drinking-water network of Gyál.
Data, Technology and True Transparency
Paper-based reporting is no longer sufficient to demonstrate real animal-welfare performance. Hunland has therefore invested in digital solutions for years:
- a cloud-based transport-monitoring platform,
- trailer-mounted camera systems,
- AI-supported analysis of loading procedures,
- and joint sensor-testing projects with Eyes on Animals and Genba Solutions.
Our long-term goal is the introduction of a new “Type 3” transport licence for shipments outside the EU — ensuring higher expertise, full transparency and eliminating non-compliant operators who create unfair competition.
A Shared Responsibility for a Sustainable Agricultural Sector
In closing, Péter underlined that the welfare of farm animals is not only an ethical obligation but also a clear market expectation and economic interest. Hunland plays an active educational role as well: we train participants at the European Commission’s BTSF courses, host university groups, and maintain ongoing dialogue with authorities and NGOs.
Our commitment remains unchanged: to raise the standard of livestock transport through real transparency, technology-driven solutions and cross-sector cooperation — supporting an agricultural model that is responsible, competitive and genuinely sustainable in the long term.
Photos: ESG Club Hungary
