2024 Poultry Sustainability & Welfare Summit

The Poultry Sustainability & Welfare Summit highlighted US-RSPE, IPWA, and the poultry industry’s commitment to sustainability and welfare. By fostering collaboration, innovation, and education, these organisations are paving the way for a more sustainable and humane future for poultry production. Their initiatives are not only setting new standards but are also inspiring a global movement towards a better, more responsible poultry industry.

Innovating Poultry Welfare and Sustainability through research and collaboration was the focus of the 2024 Poultry Sustainability & Welfare Summit held in Atlanta in September. Co-hosts the International Poultry Welfare Alliance (IPWA) and the US-Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry & Eggs (US-RSPE) united the world’s leading experts for a platform of innovative perspectives and ground-breaking insights at this biennial event.

The International Poultry Welfare Alliance (IPWA) is spearheading innovative approaches to poultry welfare through its Research & Innovation Committee. The committee has launched a series of Icebreaker events designed to envision the future of poultry welfare by 2050. These events serve as a platform for industry professionals, researchers, and students to strategise and discuss advancements needed to improve welfare standards and is working with the IPWA Poultry Health and Welfare Committee to continue research into Key Welfare Indicators that are robust, repeatable, and reliable.

The Icebreaker events are not just a discussion forum but a catalyst for innovation. They aim to foster partnerships between academia and industry, driving research and securing funding for innovative projects. The first of these events took place at the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in 2024 and was a significant success. The event’s success has led to its expansion to other major industry conferences, including the American Association of Avian Pathologists (AAAP) and the Poultry Science Association (PSA), with further events planned for EuroTier 2024, IPPE 2025, and VivAsia 2025.

The central theme of these Icebreaker events, “What Does Poultry Look Like in 2050, and How Do We Get There?”, encourages participants to brainstorm future trends and advancements. The discussions focus on identifying future needs, research directions, and the steps required to enhance welfare standards, fostering a collective effort towards a better future for poultry welfare.

These events have successfully brought together a diverse group of participants, including promising students, expert researchers, and industry professionals, to exchange ideas and develop practical solutions. The goal is to ensure that advancements in poultry welfare are robust, reliable, and applicable in real-world settings, thereby improving the welfare of poultry globally.

Transforming Poultry Welfare Training and Education: The IPWA Education & Training Committee is also making significant strides in advancing poultry welfare education. The committee has launched comprehensive training modules focused on broiler, layer, and turkey welfare. These modules have become essential resources for industry professionals and educational programmes, providing in-depth knowledge and practical insights into poultry welfare practices.

In addition to these modules, the committee has organised a series of webinars that offer detailed overviews of key welfare indicators (KWIs) for different poultry types. These webinars are accessible on the IPWA YouTube channel, providing valuable educational content to a broader audience.

Looking ahead, the committee is exploring innovative technologies, such as augmented reality (AR), to enhance training experiences. AR environments will allow participants to experience realistic farm conditions and interact with 3D representations of birds, providing a more immersive learning experience. This approach aims to complement traditional training methods with practical, hands-on learning opportunities that are both engaging and informative.

Sustainability in the poultry industry starts with precise measurement and improves with continued investment in initiatives that benefit our poultry, planet, and people. The US Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry & Eggs (US-RSPE) is at the forefront, driving collective progress toward key sustainability targets. By bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders, the US-RSPE is ensuring a collaborative approach to achieving a more sustainable future for the industry.

The US-RSPE is a coalition of various stakeholders, including producers, processors, retailers, food service companies, civil society groups, NGOs, allied industries, and individuals. The group is dedicated to advancing, supporting, and communicating continuous improvements in sustainability across the poultry and egg value chain. Since its formation, US-RSPE has achieved significant milestones, including developing the first reporting framework for sustainability in the poultry sector. This framework is now being optimised, and the organisation is expanding its efforts beyond this tool to further drive sustainability in the industry.

New committee for US-RSPE

To better support these initiatives, US-RSPE has restructured its committee system. The Framework Committee now includes three subcommittees: Promotion, Implementation, and Verification. Additionally, a new Continuous Improvement Committee has been established to address critical topics outside the framework. This committee is pivotal in identifying gaps in science, technology, and funding, ensuring that all members have the tools needed to contribute to sustainable practices. The committee has been proactive in providing educational resources and fostering partnerships through webinars, seminars, and strategic initiatives.

To support the expansion of these training programmes, the committee is actively seeking grant funding. These funds will help make the training more accessible to students and professionals, fostering a new generation of experts dedicated to improving poultry welfare standards. Additionally, the committee is considering developing executive-level training programmes to educate industry leaders on the importance of animal welfare and its impact on business practices.

The IPWA Education & Training Committee is also planning in-person training events to complement its online offerings. These events, scheduled for IPPE 2025 and VIV Asia 2025, will provide additional opportunities for participants to gain practical experience and engage with experts in the field.

The next Poultry Welfare & Sustainability Summit will be held in 2026.