Casablanca – The 20th session of the International Poultry Council (IPC) Conference opened its proceedings on Tuesday in Casablanca, under the chairmanship of the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, Ahmed El Bouari.
Speaking on this occasion, Mr. El Bouari stressed that the holding of this conference for the first time in Morocco testifies to the Kingdom's growing position in the poultry sector and the development opportunities offered by the African continent.
The Minister praised the crucial role of the IPC as a global platform for the exchange of expertise, the development of standards, and the promotion of poultry trade.
He also insisted on the importance of the sector as a fundamental pillar of food security, economic development, and job creation, highlighting Morocco's efforts to ensure the sustainability and quality of poultry products.
In this sense, Mr. El Bouari reviewed the significant growth that the poultry sector has experienced in Morocco thanks to the public-private partnership, while mentioning current challenges such as market volatility, health crises, and the need to promote sustainable development.
The Minister reaffirmed the importance of this meeting to strengthen international cooperation and the sharing of best practices, recalling Morocco's role as a gateway to Africa through its presidency of the Confederation of African Poultry Organisations (CADA) and its desire to achieve food self-sufficiency and promote local production on the continent.
Calling for innovation, the strengthening of training, and South-South cooperation as essential levers for the future of the poultry sector, Mr. El Bouari expressed Morocco's total commitment to supporting this dynamic.
For his part, the President of the IPC, Ricardo Santin, shed light on the growth prospects of the global poultry sector, stating that poultry will become the most consumed animal protein in the world by 2025, with a projected production of 104 million tonnes.
“Poultry is not only the most affordable protein for populations, but also the most sustainable”, noted Mr. Santin, estimating that this industry plays a key role in responding to global food challenges.
He added: “Our common goal is to produce food and provide essential nutrients to the populations of our countries, while helping other Nations. This is our responsibility in the face of global food challenges”.
This conference, which is being held until 10 April, in partnership with the Interprofessional Federation of the Poultry Sector in Morocco (FISA), brings together senior officials from the global poultry industry, government decision-makers, leaders of major international companies, experts, as well as representatives of FISA, a reference actor for the development of the poultry sector in Morocco.
The programme of this 20th session includes plenary sessions, presentations, and technical workshops led by renowned international experts. Visits to local poultry production sites are also planned to allow participants to discover the latest innovations and technologies adopted in Morocco, while fostering unique networking and partnership opportunities between actors in the sector.
The IPC represents more than 88% of global poultry meat production and more than 95% of international trade in this sector. It plays a key role in promoting sustainable solutions based on scientific research, in improving production systems, and in strengthening food security.
The said council is also a strategic partner of several international organisations, notably the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
This article Casablanca at the time of the 20th session of the International Poultry Council Conference first appeared on MAP Express.