What is our Trident Stewardship Program?

The top priority for our ducks here at Maple Leaf Farms is to ensure that they are happy and healthy. With the creation of our Trident Stewardship Program, we are constantly working to improve how our ducks are being cared for while being raised and conserving our natural resources.

We are the first duck company in North America to have a duck well-being program that is backed by science-based duck in every step of the process. There are training programs for the staff and growers that help our farmers, and their families keep up to date with the newest and best ways to care for ducks. In the mid-1990s, the Trident Stewardship Program was created from our Duck Care Core Beliefs, Maple Leaf Farms’ live production leadership and an advisory committee of animal science and veterinary experts from universities and research outlets all over the world that provided us with research-driven recommendations.

Our audit system is continuously changing based on the improvements in science and technology. Every other year, our farms are given extremely in-depth and detailed audits. In the years and months between the audits, Maple Leaf Farms’ field techs visit the farms to ensure they are up to the standards outlined in our Trident Stewardship Program guidelines. The audit system we have in place helps our scientists and farmers identify areas for improvement for our ducks. Our audit system is not the only audit system we have in place. Our program is also third party audited by the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization (PAACO).

The feed that our ducks eat is produced by Maple Leaf Farms and is certified by the American Feed Industry Association’s Safe Feed/Safe Food Certification Program. All the feed is made from corn, soy, wheat and other essential vitamins and minerals, never containing antibiotics, growth hormones or other animal protein products.

There are three major parts of the Trident Stewardship Program: Humane Duck Care and Well-being, Biosecurity, and Natural Resource Conservation. The audit system and certified feed are just a few parts of what goes into guaranteeing our ducks' well-being.

Find more information on our Trident Stewardship Program here and the Farm to Fork Process here.