Improving biosecurity with extended reality poultry welfare training
The International Poultry Welfare Alliance (IPWA) Education and Training Committee is dedicated to advancing poultry welfare worldwide through education and strategic partnerships. By leveraging technology and collaboration, the committee ensures that industry professionals, academic institutions, and students have access to high-quality training aligned with modern poultry welfare standards.
A significant focus of the committee’s work involves developing comprehensive training modules, extended reality (XR) experiences, and engaging in-person workshops. These initiatives help the global poultry industry address regulatory requirements, meet consumer expectations, and promote sustainability in poultry welfare.
Expanding education with comprehensive training modules
The core of this initiative is developing in-depth poultry welfare training modules focused on broiler, layer, and turkey welfare. These training resources provide essential learning opportunities for industry professionals, educational institutions and students, ensuring that they gain a practical understanding of science-based poultry welfare. The modules simulate real-world conditions across all stages of the poultry supply chain, offering immersive learning that enhances both precision and scalability in welfare education.
These comprehensive training modules align with the Key Welfare Indicators (KWI) developed by the Poultry Health and Welfare Committee and are available free online at PoultryWelfare.org. The commitment to KWIs allows professionals to assess welfare conditions with a scientific and data-driven approach, improving decision-making and fostering best practices.
To develop these modules, the IPWA has collaborated with the Center for the Optimization of Poultry (COOP) at Fresno State University. This partnership ensures the training aligns with KWI Guides and industry feedback and is created by educational curricula experts. The collaboration also extends to the customisation and flexibility of these learning opportunities, allowing enterprises to tailor training solutions to their specific operational needs. The partnership has been a bridge between academia and real-world poultry industry needs.
Integrating technology: augmented reality and hands-on training
Augmented Reality (AR) and hands-on training with KWI modules were introduced at the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) this year in collaboration with the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization (PAACO), which provided continuing education after the session on site. This training, facilitated by COOP with the support of the Education and Training Committee, enabled participants to engage deeply with real-world applications of welfare concepts through an extended reality (XR) experience.
XR technology in training allows participants to immerse themselves in realistic farm conditions, interact with 3D representations of poultry, and apply their knowledge in a simulated environment. This immersive training significantly enhances learning outcomes by providing a dynamic, interactive method of engaging with complex welfare concepts.
Participants in these XR training sessions gain valuable experience by analysing welfare indicators in virtual farm settings. Simulating real-world experiences allows trainees to develop skills crucial for effective poultry welfare improvement. By integrating XR technology, IPWA is fostering a new era of education in poultry welfare that emphasises experiential learning and practical application.
In-person training at VIV Asia 2025
Building on the success of previous events, the Education and Training Committee hosted its second in-person training session at VIV ASIA in 2025. This training provided attendees with a hands-on experience that complements the online modules. The session featured expert-led immersive training experiences tailored to the needs of industry professionals. By participating in this training, professionals refined their skills and were updated on the latest advancements in poultry welfare practices. The training at VIV Asia was a critical step toward ensuring that knowledge is both theoretical and actionable in real-world scenarios.
Registrants of VIV ASIA were also invited to the Research and Innovation Committee’s icebreaker event on 12 March. This event was a networking opportunity for industry professionals, educators, and researchers while addressing the question: ‘What does poultry look like in 2050, and how do we get there?’. The goal was to discuss the future of poultry welfare and encourage partnerships between academia and industry. This event aims to drive innovation and propel poultry welfare forward by understanding the needs of the poultry industry and, in the future, connecting research with funding opportunities. The Research and Innovation Committee has hosted similar icebreaker events worldwide, gathering valuable insights that will contribute to future publications and industry advancements.
Annual meeting and future outlook
IPWA’s annual meeting, held on 11 March before VIV Asia in Bangkok, Thailand, provided a platform for reflecting on past educational and training initiatives while setting goals for future progress. Key programming focused on committee events and programming that shared knowledge across the supply chain to meet the evolving needs of the industry.
The annual meeting also served as a networking hub for professionals looking to contribute to poultry welfare initiatives. IPWA also maintained a presence at VIV ASIA, where attendees engaged with representatives, learned more about ongoing projects, and explored opportunities for collaboration.
The IPWA supports advances in poultry welfare education through its Education and Training Committee by combining comprehensive training modules, extended reality technology, strategic partnerships, and in-person learning experiences. These initiatives support the high priority placed on poultry welfare at all levels of the industry.
The poultry industry is at a pivotal moment where technology, research and collaboration are shaping the future of animal welfare. By embracing these advances, industry professionals can ensure ethical, sustainable and scientifically backed poultry welfare practices. Through strategic initiatives and continuous education, IPWA is committed to providing resources, education and a network of support for the goals of constant improvement in poultry welfare worldwide.
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