During my interaction with Dr. Andreas Lewke, Managing Director (Thailand) at Dr. Eckel Animal Nutrition, Germany, I gained valuable insights into how phytogenic feed additives and sustainable nutrition strategies are shaping the future of poultry production and why India remains a key growth market for science-based nutrition solutions. With over two decades of experience across Asia, Dr. Lewke has worked closely with poultry integrators, feed mills and nutritionists to improve gut health, feed efficiency, bird robustness and profitability through plant-derived active ingredients. Our discussion highlighted how these phytogenic solutions can help Indian poultry producers address challenges such as feed cost volatility, disease pressure, heat stress and reduced antibiotic use, while delivering measurable long-term value.

Ricky Thaper: For our readers in India, could you briefly introduce Dr. Eckel Animal Nutrition?
Dr. Andreas Lewke: Dr. Eckel Animal Nutrition is a family-owned company from Germany, founded more than 30 years ago. From the very beginning we have focused on innovative feed additives that combine animal health, performance and sustainability. Today we are one of the international specialists for phytogenic solutions based on plant-derived active ingredients. Our products are used in poultry, swine, ruminant and aquaculture nutrition around the world. The aim is always the same: to help our customers achieve direct and long-term success with healthy growth, high-quality products and efficient, resource-friendly production.

” Phytogenic nutrition isn’t a concept for tomorrow—it’s delivering performance, health and profitability in poultry production today.”

– Dr Andreas Lewke

Ricky Thaper: What makes Dr. Eckel’s solutions particularly relevant for poultry producers in a market like India?
Dr. Andreas Lewke: In many markets, advanced feed additives are sometimes still seen as “nice to have” products. Our experience in Asia shows that, under today’s competitive conditions, they are much more than that: in fact, they are important tools for securing performance and profit.

Our phytogenic products support gut health, feed efficiency and overall robustness of the birds, whether by helping them cope with stress, pathogen pressure or by diminishing the burden of endotoxins. Together, these concepts help producers to get more value from every kilogram of feed, to stabilise performance under challenging conditions and to protect product quality, while supporting strategies to reduce the reliance on antibiotics and to respond to customer expectations for safe, high-quality poultry meat and eggs. We know that Indian poultry professionals already run very sophisticated operations. Our goal is to offer solutions that fit into these systems and add measurable value where it matters most.

Ricky Thaper: Could you tell us a bit about your own role and background?
Dr. Andreas Lewke: I am Managing Director of Dr. Eckel Animal Nutrition in Thailand and responsible for our activities in Asia. I have been working in the region for more than 20 years, always in the field of animal nutrition and feed additives. Over the years I have worked closely with integrators, feed mills and farmers across Asia. My main interest is how innovative, sustainable nutrition concepts can support both healthy animals and healthy profits.

Ricky Thaper: How do you see your connection to the Indian poultry sector in particular?
Dr. Andreas Lewke: India is a key part of our Asian focus. The scale, professionalism and speed of development in the Indian poultry industry are impressive. Over the years I have had many discussions with Indian colleagues at conferences and during customer visits in the region.

What I see is a very strong base of local expertise and entrepreneurial spirit. Indian poultry professionals are highly knowledgeable and very open to new ideas, but they rightly expect clear evidence and practical benefits. They ask tough, practical questions: does it work in my conditions, is it economic, does it help me secure my business in the long run? This mindset fits very well with how we work at Dr. Eckel.

Ricky Thaper: From your perspective, how would you describe the Indian poultry industry today – its strengths and its main challenges?
Dr. Andreas Lewke: India is already one of the largest poultry producers in the world and still has significant growth potential. Rising incomes, urbanisation and changing food habits are driving demand for affordable, high-quality animal protein. Poultry is often the first choice because it is accessible, versatile and fits well with consumer preferences.

At the same time, the industry needs to manage several challenges. Feed raw materials can be expensive and volatile, so producers need to get the maximum value from every ration. Disease pressure and biosecurity are constant topics, especially in high-density production areas.
There is also a clear move towards reducing antibiotic use and towards more sustainable, welfare-orientated production systems that make better use of resources. For us, this combination of strong market growth and pressure on costs and resources makes India not only one of the most important poultry markets globally but also one of the most inspiring to work with.

Ricky Thaper: In this context, how do you see Dr. Eckel contributing to Indian poultry in the coming years?
Dr. Andreas Lewke: We see our role as a trusted partner. Our task is to contribute proven tools and know-how that support the goals Indian companies have set for themselves. In practical terms, this means working to implement phytogenic concepts that fit Indian conditions. Our products support better gut health, more stable performance and consistent meat and egg quality, even under heat or pathogen stress and other challenges.

With our experience in the phytogenic sector, our solutions that unite profit, health and quality, our innovative portfolio and our flexible, customer-orientated service, we believe we can make a meaningful contribution to the continued success of the Indian poultry sector.

Ricky Thaper: Finally, what message would you like to share with Indian poultry professionals who are reading or watching this interview?
Dr. Andreas Lewke: First of all, I have great respect for what the Indian poultry industry has achieved. Indian poultry industry has built a strong, dynamic sector that keeps moving forward despite many external challenges. My message would be : “We at Dr. Eckel are keen to learn from Indian poultry industry leaders experience and to share our own expertise where it can help. If Indian poultry industry is interested in practical, sustainable nutrition concepts that support healthy growth, product quality and long-term success, we would be very happy to exchange ideas and explore how we can work together.”

During 1st Gulf Poultry Science Conference, held on November 25-26 in Abu Dhabi, UAE along with VIV MEA 2025, I got an opportunity to interact with Mr. Ali Murtaza Solangi, Founder and CEO, Poulta Inc., USA (www.poulta.com) and we had good discussions on how artificial intelligence and precision agriculture are transforming one of the world’s most critical food sectors and why India represents the next frontier for this technological revolution. From Vision to Reality: The Middle East Success Story – Poulta’s with head office in USA and branch offices in Canada and Netherlands, credibility in transforming large scale poultry operations was solidified earlier this year when the company announced a strategic partnership with Tanmiah Food Company, one of the Middle East’s largest poultry producers. This collaboration represents the region’s largest digital transformation initiative in the poultry sector, targeting efficiency improvements of 25% and waste reduction of 30%.

What we’ve demonstrated in the Gulf region is that Artificial Intelligence (AI) isn’t a distant future-it’s delivering measurable results today, said Mr. Ali Murtaza Solangi, CEO of Poulta. “We’re seeing mortality rates drop from 5-7% to under 3%, feed conversion ratios improve from 1.9 to 1.6, and production cycles optimize by 20-30%. These aren’t projections; they’re real outcomes happening right now in facilities across the region.”

During my discussions, Mr. Solangi said, India will be the next chapter in Poultry Intelligence. India’s poultry industry, valued at over $30 billion and growing at 8% annually, faces unique challenges that mirror those Poulta has successfully addressed in the Gulf: climate extremes, resource optimization pressures, food safety concerns, and the need for rapid scaling to meet surging protein demand from a growing middle class.

AI isn’t the future—it’s delivering measurable results today.”—

– Mr. Ali Murtaza Solangi, Founder and CEO, Poulta Inc.

Ms. Atifa Asghar, Senior Advisor for Sales and Marketing at Poulta Inc, emphasized the Indian opportunity: “India is not just another market—it’s the ultimate proving ground for agricultural technology. The Indian poultry needs exactly what Poulta Inc. offers: intelligence that turns data into impact. Our platform provides real-time visibility across the entire value chain, from breeder farms to processing facilities, enabling predictive decision-making that was impossible just five years ago.”
The Connected Ecosystem Advantage – According to company, Poulta’s solution operates as the “digital nervous system” for poultry operations, integrating IoT sensors, computer vision, predictive analytics, and blockchain traceability into a unified platform. The system monitors critical parameters— temperature, humidity, bird behavior, feed consumption and uses machine learning to predict biosecurity threats, optimize feeding schedules, and prevent disease outbreaks before they occur. For Indian producers facing increasing pressure to improve sustainability while maintaining profitability, Poulta’s platform delivers on multiple fronts: reducing antibiotic usage through early disease detection, minimizing resource waste through precision feeding, enhancing food safety through end-to-end traceability, and improving animal welfare through continuous monitoring.

Aligning with India’s Agricultural Transformation – India’s focus on digital agriculture, evidenced by initiatives like the National Digital Livestock Mission and increasing adoption of precision farming technologies, creates an ideal environment for Poulta’s expansion. The company’s approach aligns perfectly with India’s goals: food security, employment generation through technology-enabled agriculture, export competitiveness, and sustainable production practices.

The message is clear: the future of poultry farming is data-driven, predictive, and sustainable. Poulta Inc. has proven the model works at scale in one of the world’s most demanding environments. India, with its vast production capacity and appetite for innovation, represents the next chapter in this transformation, one where traditional farming wisdom meets cutting-edge intelligence to feed billions while building resilient, profitable, and environmentally responsible food systems. The question for Indian poultry stakeholders isn’t whether to adopt precision agriculture, it’s whether they can afford to delay while competitors gain the intelligence advantage.