Forging her own future in the poultry industry

Commentaries

October 18, 2024

Farming is known to be a difficult industry, but emerging farmers typically face greater challenges than their established counterparts, with red tape and moribund processes presenting a significant obstacle to market access. That’s why Yolanda Klow, owner of Queens Nest Farms, says that emerging farmers must create their own opportunities.

Yolanda has been following her own advice since she registered her 22 hectare farm located in Tarlton, in 2020. At the time, she had been managing a butchery, however, when the Covid pandemic forced its closure, she realised she had to look to other avenues for income.

The answer came in the form of eggs. “There was always enormous demand for eggs from our customers at the butchery – not surprising, when you consider that they are a convenient, inexpensive form of protein,” Yolanda says. While at the butchery, she had satisfied this demand by purchasing eggs from small farms, but once the shop had closed, she decided to use her own resources.

As luck would have it, Yolanda already had a starting point: in 2018, she had purchased a farm, “because farming is in my blood”. “My grandmother was a farmer, working with chickens, pigs and dairy cows, and as children, my siblings and I would spend every holiday with her. It was my happy place; I love the peace of a farm.”

A farm might be peaceful, but trying to break into the industry brings an enormous amount of stress, as Yolanda was to discover. “When we started out, there was no water supply on the farm. We had to source water from our neighbours. We tried to overcome this by drilling for a borehole, but our first attempt came up dry. Luckily, we were more successful the second time around, but by this time, we were financially stricken.”

Loadshedding was another problem, and Yolanda’s family agreed to install the solar panels from their own home at the farm to ensure it kept running.

These difficulties were initially offset by the success of the egg business. Queens Nest Farm started out supplying eggs from Yolanda’s brood of 2 400 hens to customers in both the formal and informal markets, and demand was encouraging. “Although it was a tough time for South Africans from an economic perspective, people will always need to eat,” Yolanda says.

Even so, the rising cost of chicken feed placed pressure on the business, and so she decided to diversify by introducing crops to the farm. This turned out to be no simple exercise, as Yolanda wanted to convert to organic farming. “I was concerned by reports of the rising incidence of cancer and other diseases, especially among young people. The chemicals in our food clearly play a role here, and I wanted to provide a solution. Plus, organic farming is better for the land. There are so many farms that are no longer productive because the soil has been damaged by the prolonged use of chemicals.” After a long period of trial and error, and a steep learning curve, Queens Nest is currently undergoing organic certification.

Yolanda is extremely proud that the farm will be supplying retailers like Boxers and Pick n Pay – and proud, too, that she is helping to educate the industry about the importance of embracing organic farming. She explains that her team has been given the distribution rights for Bio Humix, an organic liquid fertiliser, and she is eager to educate her industry peers about the benefits of this product. “We’ve noticed a great improvement in our own produce; it’s phenomenally sweet and truly delicious. But more than this, we’re contributing to the sustainability of our land.”

It hasn’t been easy to reach this point, Yolanda admits. Apart from following an arduous process to have Bio Unique registered by the Department of Agriculture and fighting through bureaucracy to see her products placed on shelves, as a female farmer, other stakeholders often regard her with scepticism. “But I am resilient person. No matter what challenges I face, I am ready to do whatever it takes to make this business grow,” she promises.

Source: Farmers Review Africa

12 Benefits of Keeping Ducks

Commentaries

Sophi Fairman

October 17, 2024

Maybe you already keep chickens or other poultry and are considering adding ducks. Or maybe you’re thinking of starting with ducks as your first foray into the world of poultry. To help you decide whether or not duck keeping is for you, here are some of the benefits of keeping ducks.

Ducks are easy to house.

Ducks require little in terms of housing, since they prefer to be outdoors. All they need is a simple shelter where they can get in from bad weather and where they can be enclosed at night as protection from predators. A fence will further deter predators, while keeping the ducks from wandering afar.

Ducks are super healthy.

Ducks remain healthy when furnished with adequate facilities for safety, comfort, and sanitation, provided clean water for drinking and bathing, and fed a balanced diet. Duck diseases are rare. Any health issues are more likely to involve an injury or other noncontagious condition.

Ducks are easy to control.

Ducks generally follow the leader. Since they move as a group, they are easy to herd. They are also creatures of habit. Once they learn the daily routine, such as going inside their shelter at night, they don’t need reminders.

Ducklings grow fast.

Ducklings require less time under brooder heat than most other backyard poultry. When daytime temperatures remain above 65°F and nights are not overly chilly, ducklings may live permanently in their outdoor shelter and fenced run at about 4 weeks of age.

Ducks thrive in all climates.

Ducks are both heat tolerant and cold hardy. They are less apt than chickens to suffer in warm weather and are less sensitive to cold weather. And they don’t mind wet weather. In fact, they love it.

Ducks are excellent at pest control.

They love foraging in the garden for slugs, snails, grasshoppers, potato beetles, and more. In a pond they are good at controlling mosquito larvae, as well as duckweed and other unwanted vegetation. Given sufficient forage, ducks can satisfy up to 90% of their own nutritional needs.

Ducks produce fertilizer.

For gardeners, one of the benefits of keeping ducks is their copious production of high-nitrogen fertilizer. Waste gleaned from a duck shelter makes excellent compost. Water from a duck pool may be drained into the garden as liquid fertilizer. The water dilutes the droppings enough to avoid causing nitrogen burn to growing plants.

Duck eggs are delicious.

A quick online search reveals a multitude of culinary and nutritional benefits of duck eggs, which can cost a pretty penny at the local farmers’ market. Luckily, one of the benefits of keeping ducks is the ready availability of fresh duck eggs.

Duck meat is excellent.

Duck meat is both flavorful and inexpensive to produce. Because ducks are fast growers and good foragers, they can be ready for the table at much less cost than most other poultry. Although ducks have a lot of internal fat, the meat itself is pretty lean.

Ducks are gentle.

They hardly ever fight with one another, and rarely if ever attack humans. Of course, family or visiting dogs, children, and all others should be taught to move quietly among the ducks and never chase or tease them. Treated with respect, ducks readily become attached to their human handlers.

Ducks are attractive.

They come in a variety of colors from all white, brown, or black to a patchwork of mixed colors including iridescent green and brilliant blue. Swimming in a pond or just wandering around the lawn, ducks add an elegant touch to any backyard.

Ducks are fun!

Watching their antics provides endless hours of entertainment. The seemingly peculiar behavior of ducks often makes us humans laugh out loud. Lots of folks keep ducks simply for the pure joy of it.

Source: Gail Damerow: The Cackle Hatchery

The Collapse of Pure Prairie Poultry and Government Response

Poultry News

Sophi Fairman

October 17, 2024

The sudden collapse of Pure Prairie Poultry, one of the largest poultry producers in the Midwest, sent shockwaves through the agricultural sector and the broader economy. The company, known for its sustainable and organic farming practices, faced financial difficulties due to rising feed costs, labor shortages, and intense competition. These factors culminated in the company filing for bankruptcy, leaving hundreds of employees jobless and farmers without a key buyer for their poultry.

The fallout from the collapse has prompted swift action from both state and federal governments. Local governments in the regions where Pure Prairie Poultry operated are working to assist the displaced workers by offering job retraining programs and temporary unemployment benefits. Farmers affected by the shutdown have received emergency financial aid to help them find new buyers and keep their operations afloat.

At the federal level, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched an investigation into the causes of the collapse and is exploring ways to stabilize the poultry industry to prevent similar disruptions in the future. Additionally, the government is considering measures to help smaller farms and food producers compete in an increasingly consolidated industry.

The collapse of Pure Prairie Poultry has highlighted vulnerabilities in the agricultural sector and raised concerns about the long-term stability of food supply chains. Governments at all levels are now facing pressure to provide stronger support for local food producers and ensure that economic shocks like this do not have widespread impacts on rural communities.

Increase of in-ovo sexing in the poultry sector

Research

Sophi Fairman

October 17, 2024

In-ovo sexing technology is rapidly gaining momentum in the poultry sector, driven by ethical concerns, legislative changes, and technological advancements. This innovative approach allows the sex of chick embryos to be determined while still in the egg, thereby preventing the hatching and subsequent culling of male chicks, a practice that has long been a source of ethical debate.

Ethical and legislative drivers

The primary driver behind the adoption of in-ovo sexing is the ethical concern associated with the culling of male chicks. Each year, billions of male chicks are culled globally because they do not lay eggs and are not suitable for meat production. This practice has faced increasing scrutiny from animal welfare organizations and the general public. In response, several countries, particularly in Europe, have introduced legislation to ban the culling of male chicks. Germany was the first to implement such a ban in January 2022, followed by France and Italy. These legislative changes have accelerated the adoption of in-ovo sexing technologies as hatcheries seek compliant and ethical alternatives.

Technological advancements

Recent advancements in in-ovo sexing technology have significantly improved its accuracy and efficiency. These methods utilize hyperspectral imaging combined with artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze the eggs, ensuring that only female chicks are hatched. This not only addresses ethical concerns but also enhances operational efficiency by reducing the resources spent on hatching and culling male chicks.

Market adoption and economic impact

The market penetration of in-ovo sexing technology has seen a notable increase. As of April 2024, approximately 20% of the hens in the European Union were sexed in-ovo, up from 15% in September 2023. This growth is expected to continue as more hatcheries adopt the technology. The economic impact of this technology is also significant. While the initial cost of implementing in-ovo sexing was high, technological improvements and economies of scale have led to a reduction in costs. The price of in-ovo sexing has decreased from €4.00 per male bird in 2022 to approximately €3.10 per male bird in 2024.

Future prospects

The future of in-ovo sexing looks promising, with ongoing research and development aimed at further improving the technology. Innovations such as the use of Transformer attention architectures in AI are being explored to enhance the accuracy and applicability of in-ovo sexing across different breeds of hens. As consumer demand for ethically produced eggs continues to rise, and as more countries consider legislation to ban male chick culling, the adoption of in-ovo sexing is likely to expand globally.

In conclusion, in-ovo sexing represents a significant advancement in the poultry industry, addressing long-standing ethical concerns while also improving operational efficiency. With continued technological innovation and increasing market adoption, in-ovo sexing is set to become a standard practice in the global poultry sector.

Source: avinews.com

Will egg, poultry, meat prices rise again because of new wastewater regulations?

Sophi Fairman

October 17, 2024

Owners of meat and poultry facilities around the country tell the Environmental Protection Agency that they will close their businesses before complying with a nearly year-old regulation requiring them to clean up their wastewater discharges.

The EPA proposed the regulation in December 2023, which would apply to wastewater discharges from meat and poultry products (MPP) facilities. The MPP industry discharges large quantities of pollutants, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, into the nation’s waters.

It’s not clear how this significant regulation will impact food safety.

According to the EPA, many meat and poultry facilities are located near bodies of water impaired by nutrient pollution. The agency’s proposal would leverage the latest pollution control technologies to cut the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and other pollutants discharged to the nation’s waters by approximately 100 million pounds of pollutants per year, improving water quality for downstream communities and ecosystems.

At the rollout of the proposed rule, EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox said: “The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to following the law and the best available science to safeguard communities from pollution.”

According to Fox, EPA’s proposal to reduce water pollution from meat and poultry processing facilities will prevent millions of pounds of pollutants from entering our nation’s waters.

Last amended in 2004, the meat and poultry ELGs currently apply to 180 of the estimated 5,300 meat and poultry facilities nationwide.

The U.S. Poultry and Egg Association figures the EPA rule will cost the industry $1.16 billion a year to comply. The association predicts 74 of its facilities will close rather than comply. Potential job losses under those scenarios would run from 127,000 to 317,000 in the poultry sector alone.

A coalition of meat and poultry industry groups is on record saying the EPA’s proposed wastewater guidelines will cost hundreds of millions more than the agency estimates, kill at least tens of thousands more jobs, and close many processing facilities, resulting in hardship for livestock and poultry producers.

“We believe that the proposed Effluent Limitations Guidelines (ELG) would thwart the Biden administration’s efforts and limit, or reverse, these outcomes for small processors, rural job creation, producer livelihoods, and a resilient food supply chain,” the coalition said.

The Meat and Poultry Products Industry Coalition made the remarks in comments submitted about the EPA’s proposed rule revising the ELGs for wastewater discharged by meat and poultry processing and rendering facilities.

EPA estimates between 845 and 1,620 facilities would be subject to and incur costs should the proposed ELGs become final. The full comments are here.

The Meat and Poultry Products Industry Coalition consists of the American Farm Bureau Federation, the Meat Institute, the National Chicken Council, the National Pork Producers Council, the National Turkey Federation, the North American Renderers Association, and the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association.

EPA job loss estimates are much lower than industry estimates, and those have been challenged. A Koch Foods environmental manager estimates a 50,000 job loss, not 17,000 as the EPA estimated.

A U.S. Chamber of Commerce unit concluded that EPA would impose a $1 million cost on every meat and poultry business in the country.

Job loss estimates aren’t the only concern. Consumers have experienced significant inflation in meat, poultry and egg prices during the past four years. Production cutbacks because of plant closures are likely to raise prices even further.

The Clean Water Act requires EPA to revise industry-wide wastewater treatment limits — called effluent limitation guidelines or ELGs — to keep pace with innovations in pollution control technology. The first ELGs for facilities that process meat and poultry products were issued in 1974; the last revision was made in 2004. ELGs are based on the performance of demonstrated wastewater treatment technologies and are intended to represent the greatest pollutant reductions that are economically achievable for an entire industry.

In September 2021, the EPA announced its Preliminary Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 15, a detailed agency study of facilities that process meat and poultry products. That study led to the EPA’s decision to revise the existing effluent regulation for these facilities.

The proposed rule would establish updated technology-based pollution limits that are supposed to be affordable and achievable using existing demonstrated technologies.

Additionally, implementing these ELGs includes flexibility to achieve the established limits using different technologies or operational strategies. This flexibility serves as an incentive for facilities and control technology vendors to develop even lower-cost compliance options.

Background
Oil and grease, organic material, salts, ammonia, and significant quantities of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) are pollutants found in MPP wastewater. The MPP category is one of the country’s largest sources of industrial nutrient pollution. Nutrient pollution is one of the most widespread and costly environmental problems impacting surface water quality in the United States. Excessive nitrogen and phosphorus in surface water can lead to a variety of problems, including eutrophication and harmful algal blooms, which have negative impacts on human health and the environment.

Rule Summary
The proposed rule contains three options. For existing direct dischargers, the EPA’s preferred option would establish more stringent effluent limitations for nitrogen and, for the first time, limitations for phosphorus. The preferred option would also establish, for the first time, pretreatment standards for oil and grease, total suspended solids, and biochemical oxygen demand. The preferred regulatory option would apply to approximately 850 of the 5,000 MPP facilities nationwide.

The proposal contains two additional options on which the EPA is requesting public comment. These options would apply effluent limitations to additional direct and indirect dischargers and establish pretreatment standards for nitrogen and phosphorus for some indirect discharging facilities included in the preferred option.

In addition to the three options, the EPA is requesting comment on a provision requiring segregation and management of high-salt waste streams. The EPA estimates that the proposed rule would reduce pollutants discharged through wastewater from MPP facilities by approximately 100 million pounds annually.

Source: Food Safety News

Listeria recall grows to 12 million pounds of meat and poultry, some of it sent to US schools

Poultry News

Sophi Fairman

October 17, 2024

A nationwide recall of meat and poultry products potentially contaminated with listeria has expanded to nearly 12 million pounds and now includes ready-to-eat meals sent to U.S. schools, restaurants and major retailers, federal officials said.

The updated recall includes prepared salads, burritos and other foods sold at stores including Costco, Trader Joe’s, Target, Walmart and Kroger. The meat used in those products was processed at a Durant, Oklahoma, manufacturing plant operated by BrucePac. The Woodburn, Oregon-based company sells precooked meat and poultry to industrial, foodservice and retail companies across the country.

Routine testing found potentially dangerous listeria bacteria in samples of BrucePac chicken, officials with the U.S. Agriculture Department said. No illnesses have been confirmed in connection with the recall, USDA officials said. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not launched an outbreak investigation, a spokesperson said.

The recall, issued on Oct. 9, includes foods produced between May 31 and Oct. 8. The USDA has posted a 342-page list of hundreds of potentially affected foods, including chicken wraps sold at Trader Joe’s, chicken burritos sold at Costco and many types of salads sold at stores such as Target and Walmart. The foods were also sent to school districts and restaurants across the country.

The recalled foods can be identified by establishment numbers “51205 or P-51205” inside or under the USDA mark of inspection. Consumers can search on the USDA recall site to find potentially affected products. Such foods should be thrown away or returned to stores for refunds, officials said.

Eating foods contaminated with listeria can cause potentially serious illness. About 1,600 people are infected with listeria bacteria each year in the U.S. and about 260 die, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Listeria infections typically cause fever, muscle aches and tiredness and may cause stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions. Symptoms can occur quickly or to up to 10 weeks after eating contaminated food. The infections are especially dangerous for older people, those with weakened immune systems or who are pregnant.

The same type of bacteria is responsible for an outbreak tied to Boar’s Head deli meat that has killed at least 10 people since May.

Source: The Toronto Star

Large frozen poultry imports affect Egyptian poultry farmers

Poultry News

Sophi Fairman

October 16, 2024

Egyptian poultry farmers are currently facing significant financial challenges due to the government’s policy of allowing large-scale imports of frozen chicken. This situation has led to substantial losses for local farmers, threatening the sustainability of the domestic poultry industry.

For the second consecutive season, Egyptian poultry farmers have been struggling to compete with the influx of cheaper imported frozen chicken. According to Tharwat Al-Zaini, Vice President of the Egyptian Poultry Producers Union, local farmers are losing approximately 7 Egyptian pounds (US$0.14) per kilogram of chicken in live weight. This financial strain is putting the very survival of Egypt’s poultry industry at risk.

In 2023, Egypt’s chicken meat production was estimated at around 1.59 million tonnes. The country had nearly doubled its poultry production between 2010 and 2019, but in the past five years, production has stagnated. The situation worsened in June 2023 when the Egyptian government temporarily lifted duties on frozen chicken imports, primarily benefiting Brazilian poultry producers who supply the bulk of these imports. Local traders reported that Brazil delivered approximately 200,000 tonnes of poultry to Egypt last year, significantly increasing overall import levels.

The cost of producing broiler meat in Egypt is about 74 Egyptian pounds (US$1.5) per kilogram, while the price of imported frozen chicken is around 66 Egyptian pounds (US$1.36) per kilogram. Despite daily price fluctuations, imported poultry remains consistently cheaper than locally produced options. This price disparity makes it difficult for local farmers to compete, leading to financial losses and a potential decline in domestic poultry production.

Al-Zaini has called on Egyptian authorities to address this issue, emphasizing that maintaining food security requires the survival of local poultry breeders. He suggested that the government should allow local farmers to slaughter and freeze poultry during peak demand periods, storing it for release when market conditions improve. Current regulations largely prevent Egyptian poultry farmers from switching between chilled and frozen poultry production, restricting their flexibility.

In response to the crisis, many farmers have resorted to selling their products at below-market prices, fearing further declines. Al-Zaini expressed confidence that if the Egyptian government decided to halt imports, local producers could quickly scale up operations to fill the void without significant consumer impact. He added that price hikes are unlikely since the Egyptian poultry market remains largely state-controlled.

In conclusion, the overwhelming influx of frozen poultry imports is severely impacting Egyptian farmers, threatening the sustainability of the domestic poultry industry. Addressing this issue is crucial for ensuring food security and supporting local farmers who play a vital role in the country’s economy.

Source: avinews.com

Perdue Farms Champions New Standards For “Pasture-Raised” Labeling at Ninth Annual Animal Care Summit

Poultry News

Sophi Fairman

October 16, 2024

Perdue Farms, a leader in animal care, no-antibiotics-ever and innovative regenerative farming practices, is setting a new standard for transparency in the poultry industry with its successful petition for a more accurate guideline to the “pasture-raised” label. Perdue’s pioneering raising models, which align with the new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines for “pasture-raised” poultry and meat aimed at eliminating confusion with terms such as “free range,” were showcased at the company’s ninth annual Animal Care Summit.

Last month, the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) updated its animal raising labeling guidelines to include a new and additional requirement for the pasture-raised claim that the animal or birds are raised on pasture the majority of their life span, where “pasture” is defined as land having rooted vegetative cover or grasses or plants. The change was initiated by a formal Perdue Farms’ Petition, citing a consumer survey where a majority of the consumers indicated it would be better informed if “pasture raised” and “free range” had different meanings to better align with their expectations.

“This ruling creates an opportunity at the national level to set pasture raised animals apart from everything else. USDA is finally acknowledging the grass roots difference that pasture raised has meant for small, independent farms for more than 30 years,” said Mike Badger, Executive Director of the American Pastured Poultry Producers Association.

The guidelines are currently in a 60-day comment period, ending November 12, 2024. After this date, it is expected that any label bearing the phrase “pasture-raised” will mean that the meat in the package came from an animal that spent the majority of its life raised on pasture. As to the comment period, to date an overwhelming number of comments – more than 1,000 and counting – have expressed support for the petition on the official docket, indicating that clear labeling empowers consumers and enables them to make informed choices.

“Consumers deserve transparency and clarity when it comes to how their food is raised,” said Ryan Perdue, fourth generation Perdue family member and Senior Vice President of Perdue Premium Meats and Emerging Brands. “This new standard, developed in partnership with nearly one thousand small pasture poultry producers, ensures that ‘pasture-raised’ means what it says – raising chickens that spend the majority of their lives on pasture.”

This commitment to transparency was at the forefront of Perdue Farms’ ninth annual Animal Care Summit. The event brought together industry experts, government officials and community partners to discuss innovations in animal welfare and sustainable agriculture that increase the quality of how animals are raised before reaching consumers’ tables. During the Summit, Perdue Farms also unveiled new animal care initiatives related to higher welfare hatching practices, increased bird activation, improved farmer relations and more, all of which is detailed in Perdue’s 2024 Animal Care Report.

Attendees got to go behind-the-scenes of Perdue Farms’ animal care and regenerative agriculture initiatives with specialized farm tours and demonstrations of Pasturebird’s biomimicry technology that moves grazing chickens to fresh pasture land using solar power. This technology was recognized in Fast Company’s 2022 Innovation by Design Awards.

The Summit also explored the future of animal care, including sessions on:

The ‘say-eat gap’, which is widening among Gen Z and some Millennials, with 62% of US teens and young adults feeling a disconnect between their dietary ideals and actual eating habits.
The case for dark meat – while in addition to being less expensive and easier to cook, it has more zinc and iron and minerals that help build strong teeth and bones.
Innovations in feed quality will yield a higher quality broiler.

“At Perdue, we’re dedicated to advancing the health and welfare of our chickens through research-driven practices and technology,” said Dr. Bruce Stewart-Brown, Chief Science Officer at Perdue Farms. “By prioritizing the well-being of animals, we create healthier environments that benefit the animals while also enhancing product quality.”

To learn more about Perdue Farms’ ethical animal care practices, visit Perdue Farms’ website here.

Poultry research collaboration between UK and China is set to grow

Poultry News

Sophi Fairman

October 16, 2024

In recent years, the collaboration between Britain and China in the field of poultry research has seen significant advancements. This partnership aims to address the challenges faced by the poultry industry, which is a crucial component of global food security and a significant source of protein for billions of people.

One of the key initiatives in this collaboration is the establishment of the UK-China Centre of Excellence for Research on Avian Diseases (CERAD) in 2015. This virtual research institute brings together leading scientists from The Pirbright Institute in the UK and several academic institutions across China, including the Shandong Binzhou Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine Academy. The primary focus of CERAD is to tackle avian diseases that pose a threat to the poultry industry in both countries.

The collaboration has been fruitful, leading to numerous scientific publications, the development of vaccines and diagnostic tests, and the organization of international meetings and training programs for students and post-doctoral scientists. The recent agreement signed at The Pirbright Institute further strengthens this partnership by developing a five-year program of joint research. This program will leverage emerging technologies such as genomics, artificial intelligence, and single-cell biology to improve animal health capabilities.

Professor Bryan Charleston, Director of The Pirbright Institute, emphasized the importance of this agreement, stating that it brings together Pirbright, Shandong, and ten other Chinese academic institutions. This expanded cooperation covers major poultry production areas in China, which is vital for comprehensively promoting the research and control of poultry diseases in both countries. Professor Bing Zhang, Director of the Shandong Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine Academy, highlighted that this successful cooperation model will lay a solid foundation for promoting the international layout and global development of avian disease prevention and control.

The UK-China partnership in avian disease research serves as a model for international collaboration in addressing global health challenges. The joint efforts have not only enhanced scientific knowledge but also facilitated capacity building and knowledge transfer through exchange visits, training programs, and scientific conferences. The collaboration has also welcomed new members, such as the South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, further expanding its reach and impact.

In conclusion, the strengthening of poultry research collaboration between Britain and China is a testament to the power of international cooperation in tackling global challenges. By combining their expertise and resources, both countries are making significant strides in improving the health and productivity of the poultry industry, ultimately contributing to global food security and economic development.

Source: avinews.com

Sustainable CAP funding confirmed for Canadian poultry research sector

Canada

Sophi Fairman

October 16, 2024

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) announced its funding commitment to the Canadian poultry sector today through the AgriScience Program – Clusters Component, an initiative under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP). The five-year funding will invest up to $10.2 million in made-in-Canada research, supported by the federal government, the Canadian Poultry Research Council (CPRC), as well as industry and other levels of government.

“Investments in research are vitally important to the future of our agricultural sector,” said the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “By making sure our hardworking poultry farmers are using best practices and adopting innovative solutions, we’re not only strengthening our economy, we’re building a resilient industry that meets the needs of consumers, while protecting our environment for generations to come.”

The $10.2 million investment in Canadian poultry research consists of up to $5.1 million from AAFC, $2.82 million from CPRC, $1.85 million from industry, and $405,000 from other levels of government.

“This new injection of funding will ensure continued innovation and excellence in research that benefits the entire Canadian poultry supply chain,” says Caroline Wilson, Executive Director of the Canadian Poultry Research Council (CPRC). “We will be supporting research that will help discover relevant and timely solutions for Canadian farmers to improve productivity and profitability, and find effective climate change solutions.”

Poultry research projects receiving Sustainable CAP funding will be carried out at the universities of Guelph, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Calgary, McGill University, Université Laval, as well as several AAFC research and development facilities across Canada. The projects fall under three main research priority areas – environment and climate change, economic growth and sector resilience.

“Research will focus on looking for ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, find innovative approaches to disease management, and improve the overall strength of our sector,” says Wilson. “Information and progress updates on these new projects will be shared through our PoultryScienceCluster.ca site.

The Sustainable CAP is a $3.5 billion, 5-year agreement (April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2028) between the federal, provincial and territorial governments. Programs under Sustainable CAP are designed to strengthen competitiveness, innovation and resiliency of the agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector.

Canadian Poultry Research Council (CPRC) is an industry-led organization with a mandate to support poultry research in Canada. Formed in 2001 to address national poultry research needs, CPRC serves the four national feather boards – Chicken Farmers of Canada, Canadian Hatching Egg Producers, Egg Farmers of Canada, Turkey Farmers of Canada – and the Canadian Poultry & Egg Processors through the coordination and implementation of its Poultry Science Cluster, securing matching and additional cluster funding to deliver an efficient poultry research program based on Canadian research priorities.