The poultry industry invests significant resources into genetics, hatching and breeding to ensure high-quality birds enter the supply chain. How do you preserve that value through catching, transport, lairage, and processing – without compromising welfare, quality, or operational efficiency? Live bird handling has become one of the most critical control points in modern poultry processing. It directly influences product quality, compliance, yield, and overall plant performance.

Efficient, low-stress live bird handling is essential for the performance and success of any poultry processing operation.

The Challenge Behind Live Bird Handling
In today’s poultry industry, processors operate under increasing pressure from multiple directions.
Higher processing speeds demand more from every part of the system. At the same time, labour challenges make manual handling more difficult to sustain. Stricter animal welfare regulations continue to raise expectations, while sustainability targets require reductions in energy use, emissions, and waste. On top of this, biosecurity risks must be tightly controlled to protect both product and plant integrity.

These external pressures translate into very real operational challenges:
– Avoiding dead-on-arrivals and bird injuries
– Ensuring high standards of animal welfare throughout catching, transport, lairage, and reception
– Maintaining consistent product quality
– Ensuring steady line feeding without disruption
– Reducing reliance on manual labour
– Managing variability in farm and transport conditions

Even small inefficiencies in live bird handling can cascade through the entire production process, affecting both cost and output.

Automation in the reception area ensures smooth, efficient handling while reducing reliance on manual labour.

Why It Matters More Than Ever
Live birds represent a high-value input that has already required significant investment before they reach the plant. Any loss in quality during handling translates directly into lost yield and reduced profitability.

Poor handling conditions during catching, transport, or reception can lead to stress, injury, and inconsistent product quality. These issues do not remain isolated – they impact downstream efficiency, outcome quality, and customer expectations.

In contrast, well-designed handling systems help maintain control over a process that has traditionally been variable and labour-intensive.

Transport equipment should be robust and allow for a safe journey from farm to plant.

The Role of Modern Live Bird Handling Systems
To address the above-mentioned challenges, the industry is increasingly moving toward integrated, automated, and welfare-focused handling systems.
Modern solutions are designed to manage the full journey from farm to shackling in a controlled and consistent way, reducing variability and improving outcomes across multiple dimensions.

Key capabilities include:
Gentle and Controlled Handling
Reducing stress and physical impact during catching, transport, and unloading helps preserve both welfare and product quality.

Automated Processes Where It Counts
Automation in key areas such as catching, unloading, stacking, or equipment washing reduces labour dependency while improving consistency and throughput.

Stable Line Feeding
Reception systems are designed to ensure a continuous and controlled flow of birds to the shackling area, even at high processing speeds.

Environmental Control
Proper airflow during transport and lairage helps prevent heat stress and supports animal welfare under varying climate conditions.

Hygiene and Biosecurity
Washable and disinfection-ready systems help reduce pathogen risks and maintain strict hygiene standards between flocks.

Scalability and Flexibility
Modular system designs allow processors to expand capacity or adapt layouts as production needs evolve, without major operational disruption.

Highly effective washing equipment eliminates the risk of inconsistencies associated with manual cleaning, ensuring reliable and repeatable hygiene standards.

Key Factors in System Design
Selecting the right live bird handling approach depends heavily on operational context. Farm layout, infrastructure, and access conditions all influence system design.
Large-scale operations require high-capacity systems capable of handling volume efficiently, while maintaining gentle handling principles. In contrast, labour availability may determine the level of automation required.

Climate conditions also play an important role. Systems must support adequate airflow and temperature control to prevent heat stress during transport and lairage.
Finally, biosecurity requirements and cleaning protocols are increasingly important, requiring equipment designed for effective washing and contamination control.

A well-designed live bird handling system takes conditions across the farm, transport, and reception areas into account to ensure best performance

A System-Level Approach to Performance
The most effective live bird handling strategies treat the entire process as one integrated system rather than isolated steps.
From farm loading to plant reception, every stage must work together to maintain flow, protect bird welfare, and support consistent processing.
When this is achieved, processors benefit from:
– Improved animal welfare outcomes
– Higher and more consistent product quality
– Reduced dead-on-arrivals and injuries
– Better operational efficiency and throughput stability
– Lower labour dependency
– Stronger compliance with regulatory standards
–   Greater long-term scalability

Choosing the Right Provider
To meet these diverse needs of a global market, BAADER offers crate handling and module/drawer solutions in a variety of modular layout options. These solutions are designed to adapt to specific operational requirements, ensuring flexibility and efficiency in handling processes.

Our live bird handling specialists provide processing audits to effectively analyse current and future challenges, helping processors design reception layouts that meet market demands. With over 80 years of proven expertise in handling live birds, we offer solutions supported by both global and local services to ensure equipment operates smoothly and efficiently.

Visit: https://poultry.baader.com/live-bird-handling to learn more about the BAADER live bird handling solutions

It was a pleasure to visit the Gurgaon office of Dovoy Chemicals India Pvt. Ltd., a biotechnology-driven company that has been delivering innovative solutions to industries worldwide. With a strong presence across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, Dovoy has established itself as a trusted partner in animal health, nutrition, grain processing, food ingredients, and industrial solutions.

During my visit, I had the opportunity to interact with Mr. Amit Kaushik, Director, Dovoy Chemicals India Pvt. Ltd.; Mr. Duttle Bing, General Manager – ASPAC & EMEA, Dovoy Inc. Singapore; Dr. Vipul Gohel, Director, MIV Biosolutions and Channel Partner for Dovoy; Mr. Anand Singh, Business Head – Animal Health; Dr. Sumit Raja, Technical Manager – Animal Health; Mr. Shyam Sunder Sharma, Business Head – DGP; Ms. Dhanashri Shitole, Zonal Sales Manager-South & Maharashtra and Ms. Akanksha Sethi, Dovoy.
Mr. Amit Kaushik highlighted that what truly differentiates Dovoy is its unwavering commitment to innovation, research, and quality. The company operates advanced ISO 17025:2017 accredited laboratories where product development, quality assurance, enzyme assays, thermostability testing, and customized solution development are carried out to meet the evolving needs of modern industries.

Mr. Kaushik further emphasized that Dovoy’s vision extends beyond supplying products. The company is focused on delivering holistic solutions and value-added services to customers. Complimentary amino acid profiling services, supported by their ISO 17025:2017 accredited laboratory, provide customers with greater confidence in feed quality and nutritional accuracy. Dovoy’s state-of-the-art laboratory is equipped with sophisticated technologies including the Agilent HPLC 1260, advanced spectrophotometers, Kjeldahl Distillation systems, Class-II Biosafety facilities, biodigesters, and Neogen Raptor platforms. These capabilities support quality assurance and the development of innovative biotechnology solutions across multiple sectors.

According to Mr. Shyam Sunder Sharma, Dovoy’s expertise in proximate analysis, protease enzyme thermostability testing, aflatoxin reduction solutions, microbial load analysis, amino acid profiling, and advanced enzyme assay testing provides a significant competitive edge. The company adheres to globally recognized standards including ISO, GMP, REACH, Halal, FSSAI, Kosher, ZDHC, and D&B certifications.

In the Animal Health & Nutrition sector, Dovoy offers a comprehensive portfolio of feed additive solutions including enzymes, organic trace minerals, yeast-based products, antioxidants, immune modulators, gut health solutions, toxin binders, acidifiers, and lipid metabolism enhancers. These technologies are designed to improve nutrient utilization, gut health, productivity, and overall farm profitability, as shared by Mr. Anand Singh and Dr. Sumit Raja.

The visit was followed by an engaging podcast hosted by Ms. Dhanashri Shitole and Ms. Akanksha Sethi, where I shared my thoughts on the “Future of the Indian Poultry Feed Industry.” I look forward to its release of this Podcast in the coming days.

The visit provided valuable insights into how biotechnology, innovation, and scientific excellence are shaping the future of animal nutrition and sustainable livestock production. It was inspiring to witness Dovoy’s commitment to developing practical, performance-oriented solutions backed by robust research and field validation.

Clean, high-quality drinking water is one of the most important factors affecting the health, performance, and productivity of commercial poultry flocks. Before starting any ongoing water treatment program, producers must first ensure the entire water distribution system is thoroughly cleaned and free of accumulated deposits.

Why Deep-Water Line Cleaning Is Essential
Over time, poultry drinking lines develop biofilm, scale, and mineral buildup. These layers provide ideal hiding spots and nutrients for harmful bacteria such as E. coli, Pseudomonas, and Salmonella. Pathogens protected inside biofilm can survive for extended periods and continuously re-contaminate the flock.
Heavy buildup can also reduce water flow dramatically – sometimes by 70-80% – leading to reduced water intake and poorer flock performance. Traditional cleaning products often fall short when dealing with established biofilm, and some acidifiers or additives can even encourage yeast and fungal growth in certain conditions.

A Superior Cleaning Solution
One standout product that addresses these challenges effectively is Intra Hydrocare, an advanced stabilized hydrogen peroxide formulation. Thanks to its unique stabilization technology, it delivers a controlled, long-lasting oxidative action that penetrates deep into lines and reaches the very last nipple drinker.

Unlike conventional cleaners, Intra Hydrocare:
– Effectively breaks down and removes stubborn biofilm
– Eliminates a wide range of bacteria, viruses, yeasts, and fungi — even those shielded within biofilm
– Helps manage organic material along with certain mineral deposits
– Is biodegradable and safe for equipment, animals, and the environment when used according to label instructions
– Carries strong regulatory approvals across multiple countries

Key Factors to Evaluate Before Cleaning
Successful water system cleaning starts with understanding your specific situation:
– Water Source: Well water is particularly prone to biofilm and slime. Even treated municipal water can develop issues due to low flow rates and temperature increases inside poultry houses.
– Water Chemistry: High levels of calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, or sulfur accelerate scale formation and residues.
– Previous Treatments: Regular use of vitamins, electrolytes, sugars, or mild acidifiers often accelerates organic buildup and makes lines harder to clean.
– Flock Health History: Recurring issues such as E. coli infections, necrotic enteritis, or respiratory problems can sometimes be traced back to contaminated water lines.

Recommended Deep Cleaning Procedure (Empty House)
1. Remove birds and flush the entire system with plain water, using high pressure where possible to dislodge loose debris.
2. Prepare a 1-3% solution of Intra Hydrocare (typically 1-3 liters per 100 liters of water) using a reliable medicator or injector.
3. Fill all lines completely, activate the nipple drinkers, and allow adequate contact time-preferably up to 24 hours for heavy biofilm.
4. Thoroughly flush the system afterward with clean water.
Note on volumes: A 100-foot section of ½-inch line typically holds approximately 9.5 liters. Accurate calculation ensures proper dosing and coverage.

Maintaining Clean Lines Between Flocks
A one-time deep clean is only the beginning. To prevent rapid recontamination, implement a daily water sanitation program using Intra Hydrocare at maintenance levels (generally 50–100 ml per 1,000 liters of water). Its slow-release properties provide ongoing protection without compromising bird performance.
For farms with hard water, combining the treatment with appropriate descaling steps can further improve results. Pay special attention to water quality during the first 7–10 days after placement of a new flock.

Bottom Line
High-performing poultry flocks need consistent access to clean, safe drinking water. Investing in proper water line cleaning and ongoing sanitation with a proven, effective product like Intra Hydrocare helps protect bird health, improve performance, and support better profitability.
Producers looking for reliable protocols tailored to their operation should consult their local Intracare professionals for practical guidance.

The 8th edition of the Global Talks Series presents an inspiring dialogue with Mr. Yiannis Christodoulou, a globally respected agribusiness executive and visionary leader. This edition delves into the dynamic intersection of technology, people, and modern poultry production, showcasing how Mr. Christodoulou’s pioneering initiatives are driving advancements in feed manufacturing, precision farming, and professional education across Asia Pacific. With nearly three decades of experience in feed technology, agribusiness leadership, and industry development, he offers a practical perspective that bridges innovation with real world industry needs. As Managing Director of Progressus and Agentis Innovations, and a board member of Innotuc, Mr. Christodoulou continues to champion technology driven growth, continuous professional development, and smarter poultry production systems—supporting the industry’s journey toward greater efficiency, sustainability, and global competitiveness.

Introduction
With nearly three decades of experience across Asia‑Pacific, Mr. Yiannis has worked closely with the animal production industry to address practical challenges, introduce modern technologies that drive industry modernization, and, most importantly, support people in advancing their careers and improving their quality of life. His commitment has always been to combine innovation with human development, ensuring that progress benefits both businesses and individuals.

In a recent conversation with Mr. Yiannis, I gained a deeper appreciation for the impact of the companies he has founded and continues to lead. It was inspiring to hear how Agentis Innovations has spearheaded the introduction of feed mill automation, highlighting its importance to Asia’s feed manufacturers.
Equally impressive is how Progressus has developed AgriSchools short courses, meeting the industry’s critical need for continuous learning and professional development. Mr. Yiannis also shared insights into his newest venture, Innotuc, a company he co‑founded to harness farm data and transform it into real‑time insights—empowering smarter decisions, stronger performance, and more efficient operations across poultry production.

Ricky Thaper: Can you explain how the business you are involved in are contributing and benefiting the Indian poultry industry
Yiannis : Collectively, Progressus Co., Ltd., Agentis Innovations Limited, and our newest venture, Innotuc Co., Ltd., serve as vital resource hubs for businesses pursuing expansion, success, and global competitiveness. Together, they provide the essential tools and expertise needed to drive industry advancement.

More specifically, these companies empower people with opportunities for continuous professional development while equipping organizations with the technologies required to embrace the new era of digitalization and automation. In doing so, they help strengthen both individual careers and corporate capabilities, ensuring the industry is well‑positioned for sustainable growth and modernization.

Progressus brings to India a wealth of global expertise in poultry innovation, strategic collaboration, and training tailored to Asia’s production conditions. Through structured technical courses for experienced professionals (AgriSchools), awareness‑raising forums, and specialized workshops on feed formulation, biosecurity, and sustainability, Progressus empowers farmers, integrators, and industry specialists to adopt modern practices that enhance efficiency and resilience. Training programs on precision nutrition, effective utilization of feed ingredients, modern feeding and management techniques, and closed‑house farming are among the topics directly requested by India’s poultry industry. Get a closer look at what Progressus has to offer at www.progressus.asia

At Agentis Innovations, the focus is on converting feed formulas into high‑quality physical feeds in the most effective, efficient, and sustainable manner—consistently and reliably. The poultry nutrition and feed formulation industry has long been at the cutting edge, often advancing faster than the operational capabilities of feed mill plants. Agentis Innovations bridges this gap by providing advanced automatic process control systems (SCADA), a vital technology for ensuring precision, consistency, and efficiency across every stage of production.

Founded in 2011, Agentis Innovations specializes in automation and process optimization for feed mills, premix plants, and grain processing and storage facilities. Its core expertise lies in feed milling, integrating advanced sensors, real‑time monitoring, and programming to develop automation systems tailored to the realities of Asian feed production. This focus ensures that customers consistently meet nutritional standards while reducing waste and variability, making Agentis Innovations a trusted partner for producers seeking to modernize and future‑proof their feed mills and premix operations. See more on this systems at
www.agentisinnovations.com

“Embracing technology is a must not a choice. Automation doesn’t replace people; it empowers them to make faster, smarter decisions with confidence.”
– Yiannis Christodoulou

Last but not least, our work has the potential to help Indian poultry farms become more profitable, modern, and appealing to the younger generation of farmers, while also providing the data needed to support the transparency that today’s buyers and consumer’s demand. At Innotuc, a Bangkok‑based agritech company, we are developing digital solutions that enable producers to monitor bird growth, feed consumption, and environmental conditions in real time.

For example, instead of relying on periodic manual weighing, Innotuc’s automatic weighing system continuously tracks flock growth and uploads accurate data to a dedicated cloud analytics engine and dashboard. This gives farmers real‑time visibility into bird performance, allowing them to quickly adjust feed, health, and management strategies. Similarly, our silo monitoring technology ensures feed inventory is always under control—reducing waste, preventing shortages, and improving cost forecasting.

Innotuc’s flagship cloud-based engine, InnoFarmPro, transforms farm data collected from our sensors into actionable insights, empowering farmers to make smarter, faster decisions. Automated data collection reduces labour needs, minimizes human error, and improves consistency across flocks. In short, Innotuc’s technology enables poultry farms to operate with precision, resilience, and competitiveness in an industry where margins are tight and efficiency is critical. At the same time, it makes poultry farming more attractive to younger generations, who are drawn to technology‑driven solutions over traditional manual operations. Get a closer look at what INNOTUC can do for you at www.innotuc.com

“The future of poultry is not just about producing more—it’s about producing smarter, with technology guiding every step.”

– Yiannis Christodoulou

Ricky Thaper: How do you see your connection to the Indian poultry industry in particular?
Yiannis : I will always have a soft spot in my heart for the people of India’s poultry industry. Since the beginning of my involvement there, I have been fortunate to meet, connect with, and build strong relationships with many talented, visionary, and passionate professionals from whom I have learned a great deal. I deeply value and nurture these connections, as they have enriched both my personal and professional journey.

A bit on who is Mr. Yiannis Christodoulou.
Born in Cyprus into a family of poultry farmers, Mr. Yiannis began his career in the poultry industry at a very young age. Today, he is a senior agribusiness executive and entrepreneur with deep expertise in animal nutrition, feed technology, and strategic leadership across Asia‑Pacific. He serves as the Managing Director of Agentis Innovations and Progressus, companies he founded and developed in order to advance innovation in feed milling, animal nutrition, and professional education for the livestock and aquaculture industries. His work consistently emphasizes innovation, sustainability, and knowledge transfer, positioning him as a key figure in shaping the future of the animal protein production industries in Asia.

Ricky Thaper : Message to the Indian poultry industry
Yiannis : India’s poultry industry has emerged as a global powerhouse, ranking second in egg production and among the top four broiler producers worldwide. It has achieved rapid growth while contributing significantly to nutrition security and rural employment. This success is a testament to the resilience, vision, and commitment of its professionals and their companies.

Looking ahead, the industry must balance its impressive growth with priorities such as food quality, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare, while remaining vigilant against challenges including shifting market dynamics, disease risks, and resource volatility in land, water, and raw material supply. In summary, India’s poultry sector has transformed into a mega‑industry and is positioning itself as a global leader.

In this exclusive interaction with Mr. Ricky Thaper discusses the critical issues shaping India’s poultry sector, including feed security, ethanol mandates, regulatory reforms, import policies, and sustainable strategies for future growth and competitiveness.

Poultry Creations: With the rapid modernization of India’s poultry sector, how do you foresee domestic feed-grain demand evolving in direct competition with ethanol mandates?

Ricky Thaper: At present, the Indian poultry industry, which has seen 7% to 8% annual growth in the last decade is valued at over $ 30 billion. The industry has transformed itself from following conventional farming practices to a modern commercial production system. However sustained supply of feed ingredients remains a key challenge. Poultry feed mostly consist of Maize (corn) 50-55% and Soybean Meal 20-25% and rest other feed ingredients and feed additives & nutrients.

Stating that there has been increasing diversion of maize towards industrial use and ethanol production, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in the vision document for poultry sector in 2047 had also stated “the current growth level of maize and soybean production in the country will be insufficient to meet the demand of the poultry industry.” The CII has urged the government to allow imports of genetically modified (GM) maize and soybean because of ‘unprecedented increase’ in feed prices.

The demand supply situation has entered a new phase especially maize, a key ingredient, has become India’s single-largest feedstock for ethanol. With growing demand for maize following the government’s future plans to expand ethanol blending program, may result in lesser supplies for poultry, dairy and aqua feed.

Poultry Creations: What regulatory alignments are most critical right now to ensure stable, cost-effective grain supplies for the growing poultry and livestock industry?

Ricky Thaper: To meet the growing needs of the livestock feed, the government needs to have an open import policy for sourcing maize and soybean meal from the various countries, irrespective of whether the crops are GM variants or not. With the competing demand from ethanol, starch and other sectors, feed ingredients imports should be open without any restrictions. In August, 2021, the government had relaxed import rules to allow the first shipment of 1.2 million ton of genetically modified (GM) soybean meal to support the domestic poultry industry after a record spike in feed prices. Poultry industry has urged the Government repeatedly to allow both import and cultivation of GM maize and soybeans to fulfil the requirement of these two major feed ingredients in the coming years. The sustainable supplies of feed in coming years would be crucial for the growth of the poultry industry.
Currently annual animal feed production is estimated close to 56 million tons which includes dairy feed 16.5 million tons, aqua feed 2.5 million tons and poultry feed 37 million tons. The feed ingredients are mostly maize and soybean meal About 60-65% of the output of maize is used as poultry and livestock feed while rest is used for industrial use.

In the 2025-26 crop year (July-June), the agriculture ministry has estimated maize production at 52 million tons while output estimate by trade is around 48 million tons. As per industry estimate, poultry industry used around 26 million tons of maize in feed while around 5.5 million tons used for dairy feed while around 6 million tons was used by starch industry and only 1.5 MT is used for human consumption. 1 million tons in alcohol and about 1 million tons in seed and wastage. Balance 8-10 MT of maize was diverted for ethanol production.

Poultry Creations: How can corporate agribusiness interests and national trade policies better synchronize to protect poultry margins during periods of commodity price spikes?

Ricky Thaper: The poultry sector is a vital sector of the livestock industry which provides employment to over 6 million people. While industry is witnessing a steady pace, sustainable feed supplies at reasonable prices would be crucial for the growth of the sector as feed prices constitute over 65% to 70% of the cost of production. Any increase in feed prices hit the margins of poultry farmers. The government has been focussing on growth of agriculture and allied sectors. There are several industries which require maize at their key raw material so the government should focus on. The current growth level of maize production in the country will be insufficient to meet the demand of the poultry industry in coming years.
The soybean production cycle in India for the year 2025–26 has seen a notable downturn compared to the 2024–25 season. As per the data from the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA & FW) or the Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA), the consensus is clear: production fell sharply due to a combination of lower acreage, extreme weather and falling yields.

Government Estimate is 12.60 Million Tons and the Industry Estimate (SOPA Ground Survey) | is11.03 Million Tons The Government numbers track total theoretical agricultural output, while SOPA’s numbers heavily filter for commercial availability, market arrivals and clean seed weight available to crushing mills.

Three main factors compressed the 2025–26 harvest compared to the previous year:
1. Reduced Cultivation Acreage – Farmers actively shifted some of their land away from soy due to weaker market-yard prices observed mid-2025, from 118.31 Lakh Hectares (2024–25 Acreage) to 112.14 Lakh Hectares (2025–26 Acreage), a decline of roughly 5.2%

2. Depressed Yields per Hectare – Climate abnormalities took a heavy toll on the plants during critical growth phases. The national average crop yield dropped from 1,089 kg per hectare in 2024–25 down to 983 kg per hectare in 2025–26.

3. Weather Anomalies and Crop Disease – Excessive & Uneven Rains: The monsoon brought flash water-logging in low-lying areas during the initial phase, causing localized washouts that required re-sowing. Later, prolonged heavy rains during the critical harvesting time damaged crop quality, yielding smaller grain sizes and higher moisture content. Pest Pressures: Key growing belts saw infestations of Yellow Mosaic Virus and aerial blight, which severely stunted pod development.

Because total commercial availability for crushing fell dramatically to10.40 Million Tons (compared to over 12.32 Million Tons in 2024–25), the domestic crushing industry has faced severe supply shortages. This raw material deficit is the primary driver behind the rocketing local meal prices and the collapse of the export trade.

Another major challenging area is the dried distillers’ grains with soluble (DDGS) from maize, a key by-product of ethanol production, are not of desired quality for feed and the toxins levels are high. The challenge is that this toxin affected DDGS when used in feed will set into food chain.

Poultry Creations: What sustainable growth models are proving successful in insulating the Indian poultry sector from global supply chain shocks?

Ricky Thaper: The poultry industry, like other agriculture sectors, is subject to the supply and demand scenario, market structures and Government policies. An open import policy on animal feed ingredient would go a long way meeting the demand of livestock and poultry feed. Several south Asian countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka have allowed imports of GM Maize and GM soybean / soymeal. The GM soybean / soybean meal and Maize imports should be allowed with a fixed quota during off or non-harvesting season here so that it does not adversely impact the farmers’ price realisation. Reduction in import duties on these feed ingredients in the poultry feed should be announced soon.

As the demand and supply gap between consumption and production of feed grows, liberalised imports of soybean meal and maize would mitigate the problems and keep the prices under check. With the competing sector demanding maize supplies, liberalising policy on import is of paramount importance for sustainable growth of the poultry sector which is growing at a steady pace with the rising demand of protein enriched food.

The 7th edition of the Global Talks Series presents an inspiring conversation with Ms. Tori Sorensen, a globally respected advocate for sustainable agriculture, soybean processing, and animal nutrition education. This edition explores Tori Sorensen’s journey from her farm roots in Iowa to becoming a global voice in soy innovation and protein security. Through her leadership at Insta-Pro International and contributions with U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), she has helped advance feed processing technologies, sustainable animal nutrition, and global education initiatives across more than 100 countries. As former Chair of the Soy Excellence Center (SEC) Committee, Tori played a leading role in strengthening global training programs for feed manufacturing and agribusiness professionals, including the establishment of SEC India. Her work continues to inspire the poultry and livestock industries through innovation, education, and a strong commitment to global protein security.

Career Summary:
In a world where global food systems face sustainability and production challenges, Tori Sorensen has built a career focused on advancing global agriculture through education and communication in soybean processing and animal nutrition. As Marketing Director for Insta-Pro International, she has helped expand the company’s global presence by promoting sustainable feed processing solutions across international markets. Outside her position at Insta-Pro, Tori has become a thought leader and a staunch advocate for sustainable agriculture practices and education on soybean processing.

Early Career/Background:
Raised on a farm in southeast Iowa, agriculture and the value of hard work played a defining role in shaping Tori’s life and career. She experienced the realities of farm life first hand by detasseling corn, walking beans, helping with the family grain bin business, and learning to drive a tractor before she even learned to drive a car.
Like many farm families impacted by the 1980s farm crisis in the United States, her family faced significant hardship, including losing their farm and home at auction. Those experiences left a lasting impact and helped shape her perspective on resilience, opportunity, and education. Inspired by her father’s belief that “they can take everything from you, but they can’t take away your education.” Sorensen developed a deep passion for agricultural education and leadership development, which continues to influence her work in her global agriculture outreach today.

Marketing Director at Insta-Pro International:
As current Marketing Director for Insta-Pro International, Tori Sorensen has helped build global partnerships focused on soybean processing, feed efficiency, and animal nutrition education. Working with customers and distributors in more than 100 countries, for the last 12 years, she has supported international outreach efforts that promote high-shear dry extrusion technology and sustainable soy processing solutions for poultry, livestock, and feed production. Her role often combines technical education with relationship-building, helping connect feed producers and processors around the world with U.S. soy innovation and processing expertise.

Global Partnerships and Outreach:
Through her leadership at Insta-Pro International and former volunteer positions at USSEC, Tori has leveraged her expertise and resources to lead workshops, presentations, technical trainings, and international outreach programs focused on soybean processing and animal nutrition education. By combining Insta-Pro’s expertise in high-shear dry extrusion and feed processing with USSEC’s global education initiatives, she has helped connect producers, nutritionists, feed mills, and agribusiness leaders from across the globe with practical knowledge on feed efficiency, soybean meal quality, and sustainable protein production. Her work centers on creating collaborative learning opportunities that strengthen industry partnerships while advancing the understanding of U.S. soy technologies in global markets.

USSEC Leadership:

In addition to her role at Insta-Pro International, Tori has also served in several leadership positions with the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), including Board of Directors (2019-2025) founding Chair of the SEC (Soy Excellence Center) Committee (2019-2025) and Co-Chair of the Animal and Aquaculture Utilization Team from 2017 to 2019. As Chair of the SEC she led the establishment and growth of the educational programs designed to train emerging leaders in feed manufacturing and agribusiness across the globe. The centers focus on advancing animal nutrition, supporting sustainable protein production, and strengthening international trust in U.S. soybean quality and processing technologies.

Spotlight on India & USSEC SEC
As Chairwoman, Tori led the SEC global presence, in four regions – Americas, Asia, MENA, and Sub-Saharan Africa with focused Centers in Thailand, Egypt, Nigeria, and established in 2024, India.

With 1.4 billion people strong and a rapidly growing economy, India is one of the worlds largest and most diversified food producers with agriculture contributing to over 20% of the economy. Challenged with a young workforce and unique market needs, the SEC program aligned with the Indian government’s focus on skills development for youth, making them ready for jobs under the ‘Skills India’ initiative.

In 2024; Tori, along with 14 Industry Leaders from India and the SEC Global Advisory Panel, held its inaugural meeting in Mumbai. This meeting provided guidance and direction on tailoring SEC offerings to solve key training challenges and operational hurdles in India’s food and agribusiness operations.

During her tenure as Chairwoman of the SEC, Tori led this transformative training program, preparing over 20,000 participants globally with the skills needed to be future-ready. Making her a strong advocate for global protein security through soy innovation and animal nutrition. A fitting legacy to her father’s belief in the importance, permanence and impact of education.

“Education is the most sustainable investment we can make for the future of global agriculture. When we empower people with knowledge, innovation, and opportunity, we strengthen food security and create a better future for generations to come.” 

— Tori Sorensen

Mr. Kevin Roepke, Regional Director, South Asia and Su Sahara Africa (SASSA), U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) welcomed all delegates and introduced the Governed and other delegation members from Iowa.

This was followed by keynote address by Governor Kim Reynolds on Iowa-Freedom to Flourish. Mr. Mike Naig spoke on Iowa-India Ag cooperation. Mr. Nicole Podesta, Senior Agricultural Attaché, US Consulate, Mumbai spoke on USA-India Ag Cooperation. Mr. Randy Miller, USSEC Director gave nice presentation on Iowa Farming Technology Implementation. Mr. Sumit Gupta, CEO, WASEDA, gave an impressive presentation on India S&D imbalance.

Other speakers at the meeting were Mr. Divya Kumar Gulati, Chairman, CLFMA, Mr. Ricky Thaper, Mr. Sunil Kataria, CEO & MD, Godrej Agrovet Limited, Mr. Joe Dierickx, USSEC Director, Iowa Farm Bureau, Mr. Joe Robert’s, Director, Iowa Corn Promotion Board and Mr. Tom Adam, President, Iowa Soybean Association.
The Roundtable dialogue focused on advancing collaboration between Iowa and India in agriculture, agri science, renewable energy and allied sectors, building a stronger bridge for trade, technology and investment.

Mr. Franklin, Country Team Lead-India, USSEC gave closing remark. This was followed by the Networking Reception, attended by all invites, fostering new partnerships and collaborative opportunities.

It was nice to represent the poultry industry in such a strategic forum and contribute to advancing sustainable practices, innovative solutions, and strengthening the soy and poultry value chains in India. If we negate the effect of tariff, there are very good chances of import of US Soybean Meal by Indian Poultry Industry. The insights and learnings from this event will help drive positive impact and foster greater collaboration within the industry.

In 2024, the “Year of Elections,” global leadership shifts are shaping new directions in trade and policy. CrushCon organised by U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) at Hotel Sofitel Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, embody this year’s theme, “Electing to Trade.” The conference was attended by more than 100 delegates from South Asia; India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka besides USSEC Team from Dubai and Senior Soybean Association Board Members from USA, brings into focus the connections between politics, trade and globalisation, particularly within supply chains, economic frameworks, and supply-demand factors.

The first day session opened with welcoming remarks from Mr. Kevin Roepke, Regional Director – South Asia & Sub-Saharan Africa (SAASSA), US Soybean Export Council, who introduced the key themes for conference that included

Ms. Valerie Brown, Regional Agricultural Counselor at USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), who discussed market development in the GCC, emphasizing the collaborative efforts between USSEC and USDA. Mr. Kevin Roepke said “Food inflation squeezes the middle class and erodes disposable income. The easiest way to reduce food inflation and thus improve the standards of the middle class is to lean into trade. Through trade, we can make healthier food more affordable and available to the middle class of South Asia.”

Mr. Jim Sutter, the dynamic CEO of USSEC, shared insights into the soy industry’s growth and USSEC’s commitment to sustainable solutions in nutrition. emphasized how trade is an integral channel to provide food and nutrition security, Mr. Sutter highlighting its key benefit of moving goods from point of surplus to point of deficit.
While trade helps maximize income in producing countries it provides consuming countries with availability of competitively priced products. He discussed the power of comparative advantage citing the example of Costa Rica. While Costa Rica specializes in producing bananas and coffee, the U.S. specializes in soybeans and corn. Through trade, these countries mutually benefit from high quality and competitively priced products.

Mr. Jim Sutter, CEO, USSEC presented a Special Appreciation to Mr. Kevin Roepke, Regional Director – South Asia & Sub-Saharan Africa (SAASSA).

Mr. Lance Rezac, USSEC Chair, provided a perspective on how U.S. farmers are meeting the demand for food while remaining environmentally responsible. Mr. Lance Rezac, said U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) focuses on differentiating, elevating preference, and attaining market access for the use of U.S. Soy for human consumption, aquaculture, and livestock feed in 80+ countries internationally. USSEC members represent the soy supply chain including U.S. Soy farmers, processors, commodity shippers, merchandisers, allied agribusinesses, and agricultural organizations. USSEC is funded by the U.S. soybean checkoff, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service matching funds, and industry.

In a session on “US Soy Policy Needs Post-Election,” Daryl Cates, Chairman, American Soybean Association (ASA), highlighted the priorities for U.S. soy in Congress’s lame duck session. He emphasized the value of Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) funding and the potential impact of future free trade agreements (FTAs) on U.S. soybean exports.

The keynote presentation was by Mr. James Fry, Glenauk Economis. A standout keynote fireside chat, “Electing to Trade,” featured former USDA Secretary Dan Glickman in conversation with Kevin Roepke, exploring how trade policies could evolve following global elections. The first day morning session concluded with the panel “Pakistan Two Years On,” sponsored by the South Dakota Soybean Checkoff, where Zain Mahmood and Shahzad Ali Khan shared advancements and partnerships in Pakistan’s agricultural sector. CRUSHCON Dubai and HUNGERCON Dubai continue to bring insightful dialogues, networking, and fresh perspectives toward a sustainable future.

The afternoon sessions of CRUSHCON Dubai continued to delve into the intricacies of global trade and its implications, with a focus on geopolitics, market dynamics, and sustainability. The keynote address on Geopolitical Economics featured Ms. Trinh Nguyen, Senior Economist for Emerging Asia at Natixis, who provided insights into the evolving landscape of emerging markets, particularly in Asia. Her perspectives, widely respected across international news platforms, are invaluable for understanding the region’s economic pulse. In the session titled Global Oilseeds Spotlight, David Mielke, Director at Oil World in Germany, addressed the relationship between low corn and soybean prices and their potential to drive a global boom in the livestock and poultry sectors. His analysis brought forward important discussions on supply and demand dynamics in the industry.

Mr. Jaison John, Regional Head of Market Intelligence- South Asia, USSEC spoke on “How Policies Have Distorted Regional Prices for Feed Ingredients” and shed light on the complexities of trade policies that have affected feed ingredient pricing, making previously affordable sources of animal protein some of the most expensive globally. The Freight Sector Spotlight, presented by Mr. Voytek Chelkowski from Seamind Blue Ocean, highlighted the impact of freight volatility on margins. He emphasized the importance of understanding FOB versus C&F purchase decisions within the current geopolitical climate.

A significant moment came with the SUSS Logo Signing, where Nepal joined the initiative for sustainability, welcoming five companies into the fold, including Valley Group (NP), Kosmo Feed Mills (SL), Adamjee Lukmanjee (SL) and Nel Farms (SL),. Presenting this initiative were Ms. Deeba Giannoulis, Dr. Pawan Kumar and Dr. Athula Mahagamage.

The afternoon concluded with a keynote address on US Soy’s Commitment to Global Nutrition Security, showcasing the dedication of senior USSEC leadership to enhancing global nutrition.

Recognizing Pioneers Making an Impact in South Asia’s Protein Value Chain Each year, through its HungerCon event powered by Right to Protein, USSEC recognizes and celebrates outstanding contributors to the protein value space in South Asia.

Ms. Deeba Giannoulis, Regional Head of Corporate Affairs-SAASSA, reflected on the origins of HungerCON and the legacy of past winners who have paved the way for advancing the discourse on nutritional security. This year’s esteemed ‘HungerCon Award’ was awarded to Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation in India for her pioneering work in integrating science into health policymaking. Other notable nominations included Mr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Vice Chancellor, University of Agriculture in Faisalabad, Pakistan and Mrs. Vibha Ahuja, Chief General Manager, Biotech Consortium India Limited from India.

The second day of CRUSHCON Dubai 2024 brought forward insightful discussions and innovative solutions aimed at advancing sustainability and global nutrition. Ms. Deeba Giannoulis, Regional Head of Corporate Affairs-SAASSA, introduced the Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol, showing how companies can integrate this framework to promote sustainable practices. She spotlighted businesses that have adopted the SUSS logo, signalling their dedication to eco-friendly initiatives within the soy industry.
Ms. Christelle Cordahi, Regional Human Utilization & Nutrition Consultant at USSEC, presented on the importance of incorporating diverse protein sources, both animal and plant-based, to support a balanced diet. Her insights underscored the essential role of soy in overall health.

Ms. Tori Sorensen, Chair of the SEC Global Advisory Panel, shared the impressive growth and influence of the Soy Excellence Center (SEC) worldwide, which have significantly contributed to knowledge sharing and training in the soy sector. By providing free, accessible and comprehensive training options, Soy Excellence Center empowers professionals to stay updated with the latest trends and innovations in their fields. Soy Excellence Center courses adds tremendous value to industry workforce engaged in the protein value chain.

Ms. Tori Sorensen, Chair of the SEC Global Advisory Panel, presented the ceremonial SEC lapel pin to Mr. Ricky Thaper, Regional Advisory Council (RAC) Member Soy Excellence Center-India.

Dr. Tom D’Alfonso, Director of Animal & Aquaculture at USSEC, highlighted the value of optimizing feed nutrient profiles, stressing that not all soy is created equal. He described how U.S. soybean meal is tailored to maximize nutritional benefits for poultry, fish, and shrimp. In an insightful session, Will McNair, Global Head of Human Utilization at USSEC, discussed the complexities of soybean oil processing. He explained how factors such as damage, maturity, and moisture levels significantly affect the quality of soy oil, emphasizing how U.S. soybeans lead in optimizing refinery operations.

The day concluded with a wrap-up by Mr. Kevin Roepke, summarizing key outcomes and insights from the sessions. He emphasized the collaborative spirit of the conference and its potential to drive positive change in the agriculture and nutrition sectors. Mr. Daryl Cates, Chairman, American Soybean Association, offered a vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all participants and speakers for their valuable contributions and commitment to advancing global nutrition security.

The CRUSHCON Dubai 2024 has truly set the stage for dynamic and impactful discussions. These conferences are a testament to the dedication of global leaders and experts in the fields of agriculture, nutrition, and sustainability. By bringing together thought leaders, industry professionals, and innovators, the events are fostering meaningful dialogue that is shaping the future of food systems.
The focus on sustainable practices and solutions demonstrates a strong commitment to addressing global challenges, ensuring a healthier and more secure future for all. It’s inspiring to witness how these platforms continue to empower collaboration and inspire change on such a significant scale.

By Dr. Shiva Kumar, Director – Technical, TN South Asia

Poultry derived food products are the most important animal protein sources globally. India is the third-largest egg producer and the fourth-largest chicken producer in the world. Poultry meat and eggs are the most important animal protein sources available, and a significant increase is forecasted in demand.

But there is also a significant number of challenges facing the Indian poultry and allied industries with respect to sustainable production of poultry meat and eggs where market demands, and consumer needs will put more constraints on the production systems and methods. These challenges are dynamic and diverse, and solutions and opportunities will require development of appropriate technology, using and advancing our knowledge base.

Sustainable poultry farming is based on three pillars: environmentally sound, socially responsible, and economically viable. For all these pillars, innovation will be key and hence, advances in animal nutrition will play an important role, where we have concrete challenges in economical optimization of the value chain and meeting product quality demands, whilst safeguarding animal wellbeing and human health.

Trouw Nutrition is an organisation that deeply cares about building a more sustainable future – both for our industry and for consumers. We are committed to transform science into actionable, practical nutrition and farm management solutions to help customers produce quality poultry meat and eggs. We support food producers with the technology that puts advice and data at their fingertips.

Feeding the Future is the essence of Trouw Nutrition (a Nutreco company), expressing the challenge to double food production while halving the carbon footprint. Our ambition is to contribute meeting the rising global demand with growing number of world population in a sustainable manner. The Trouw Nutrition way focuses on innovation, quality, sustainability, and integrated solutions.

Our solutions are built on four solid pillars. Each one contributes to help our customers adding more value to their business in a sustainable and a safe way.

Trouw Nutrition is built on a strong commitment to transform science into actionable, practical nutrition and farm management solutions. We focus on our four innovation pillars that deliver sustainability benefits to animals, farms, and the environment:

Early Life Nutrition:
Birds are confronted with various stressful events during their life, especially in critical transition periods such as hatch and transport. Provision of nutrition and water during the immediate post-hatch period and during transit from hatchery to farm has shown promising effects on broiler performance and health in the first days and weeks of life (Bergoug et al., 2013; Published results, Trouw Nutrition 2016). Early life interventions do not per se result in higher market weights or improved feed efficiency in each flock, but it will contribute to more stable and consistent performance and a reduced risk of birds developing health problems.

Health Life:
Animal Nutrition is an important part of the solution to help to contain Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). Adequate animal nutrition (well-balanced and well-formulated feed) combined with good hygiene practices on farms and proper housing are key in promoting animal health and welfare. A balanced diet of compound feed supported by specialty feed ingredients/additives meets the animal’s physiological requirements and maintains the balance of the gut flora. Poultry Gut health is in fact a key factor in keeping birds healthy and resilient to stressors, such as heat or pathogens.

Trouw Nutrition Poultry Gut Health Solution, integrates Farm, Feed and Health approach.

Feed​ – Premixes, Young Animal Feed (ChickCare, NutriOpt, feed formulation advice including Intellibond C,
Feed safety: Fysal/Fylax/Toxo
Farm​ – Advice on farm management​ and biosecurity​, Selko pH (drinking water) with dosing systems
Health​ – Selko pH (water) + Selacid (feed), Gut health evaluation​

Water and feed acidification will contribute to maintaining a stable microbiota in poultry. The efficacy of organic and inorganic acids can be further enhanced by inclusion of medium chain fatty acids or other natural antimicrobial compounds that exert a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity at relative neutral pH ranges.

Precision Nutrition:
From an economical point of view, we need in general to meet nutrient requirements of the birds in the most efficient and economical way and assure that animals are in good health to exploit their potential.

Efficient use of resources e.g. feed ingredients will benefit environmentally sound production. In this respect, use and conversion of co-products from the food and biofuel industry to highly animal nutrition products is contributing to sustainable production as well. One of the challenges in our industry is to be flexible with our raw material usage to manage higher use of low-quality ingredients and anticipate on fluctuations in raw material prices, whilst at the same time we need to have grip on variation in raw material quality and assure that the feed delivers the same high performance.

Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) is a rapid technique to evaluate the nutrient profile of feed ingredients. A more advanced precision nutrition system such as NutriOpt from Trouw Nutrition has incorporated NIRS, with its extensive nutrient databases.

NutriOpt is an integrated nutritional precision-feeding tool from Trouw Nutrition, which enables the poultry farmer or grower or feed miller to optimize both feed costs and production results to maximize financial benefits in the value chain. It consists of several key elements that complement and support one another in optimizing animal nutrition, performance and associated costs through precise real-time analysis, modelling and calculation.

To offer real-time feed analysis, Trouw Nutrition has introduced the NutriOpt On-site Adviser (NOA). This innovative solution reveals the real nutritional value of your feed ingredients and helps to improve performance and profitability. Powered by our comprehensive NutriOpt database, the NutriOpt On-site Adviser provides with accurate analytical results to make better-informed choices.

The portable NIR scanner and the mobile app enable you to get analytical results of nutrients in raw materials and finished feed onsite. The mobile app connects the handheld scanner to the NutriOpt nutritional database and advice on the nutritional value of the scanned materials. The NutriOpt On-site can be even connected to your decision-making tools for a smooth optimisation process.

NOA can perform convenient analysis without samples leaving your farm, and the poultry farm owner can enjoy a greater control over their animal performance.
In relation to feed safety, mycotoxins are probably one of the most important risk factors that need to be controlled among the Indian poultry Industry. It is also encouraging to note, that rapid diagnostics are now more widespread globally adopted for quality control to take appropriate measures once mycotoxin contamination in raw materials is detected. It is an essential part of feed quality assurance and with the right measures the risks can be mitigated, which will prevent unexpected performance losses and health problems.

Measuring mycotoxin levels in feed can be time-consuming and requires specialised and costly methodology. Trouw Nutrition offers “Mycomaster”, a tool to analyse mycotoxins.

Mycomaster provides rapid, cost-effective, and quantitative mycotoxin analyses of over 40 validated feed raw materials and final feed. And it works on-site, bringing flexibility to testing frequency, in support to Feed quality control, formulation decisions and remediation strategies.

Tackling the challenges:
The importance of using a holistic approach to enable successful conversion of feed into high quality poultry protein in a sustainable way is evident for the Indian poultry producers. These high producing birds must be able to consume, digest, absorb and convert sufficient nutrients to meet their genetic potential, and do this consistently from flock to flock. To do this successfully and achieve high consistent production with acceptable risk will require increased use of existing technology and expanding our knowledge and information network. At Trouw Nutrition, we have the tools to support the challenges faced by the poultry producers to make better choices to support the production chain. For a complete overview of our tools and services, please contact your nearest Trouw Nutrition expert/representative.

For further information, kindly write to us at customercareindia@trouwnutrition.com
or visit our website: www.trouwnutrition.in

To sustain growth in the poultry sector, the government must ensure supplies of feed ingredients at reasonable prices which should be ensured through liberalizing imports and augmenting production.

Livestock rearing is one of the most important economic activities in the rural areas contributing significantly to the economy. Livestock sector, although half the size of crops, plays a crucial role in driving the agricultural gross value added (GVA) growth. This sector is contributing to the economy in a big way considering the higher rate of growth of the sector in comparison to the agriculture sector.

Presently, the GVA of the livestock sector has recorded an annual growth rate of around 6% at constant prices. The growth of the sector is more than the crop sector growth rate which was 1.65% annually. Its contribution to the Indian agriculture and economy is increasing steadily with a share of 30.47% in agriculture and allied sector GVA and 4.75% in the country’s total GVA.

According to basic animal husbandry statistics, 2023, out of the total meat production of 9.77 million ton (MT) in 2022-23, the share of poultry meat was 4.99 MT, contributing 51% of total output. The growth of poultry meat production has increased by 4.52% over previous year. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, India ranks 8th in the world in terms of meat production. The poultry sector in India is valued at more than $28 billion in 2021-22, according to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)’s vision document – 2047 for Indian poultry sector released recently. Over the years, the poultry sector in the country has witnessed a remarkable growth, with chicken meat growing at an annual growth rate of 8% in the last 15 years – 2006-2021-22, the report stated.

With rising disposable income and population, the demand for poultry products including chicken meat and eggs has been on rise. The sector has capitalized on this opportunity and expanded its production capability to meet the growing consumer demand. This significant transformation in the poultry sector has been attributed to the commercial poultry industry which accounts for 85% of the total poultry production and 15% is contributed by backyard poultry. The sector has witnessed a shift from the traditional backyard poultry models to a model production technique including integrated farming systems, contracting farming and value chain integration.

As the share of meat and egg eating population has increased by 6% during 2015 – 2021, the national family health survey -V, 2021, the demand for poultry and products is set to increase further. Currently, the per capita consumption of poultry products in the country (94 eggs per annum and chicken meat consumption is 4.2 kg per annum) is very low as compared to the Indian Council for Media Research (ICMR) recommended consumption level of 180 eggs and 10.8/kg poultry meat per person per annum. There is a need to bridge the gap between availability and requirements couples with large scale awareness campaigns.

For enhancing efficiency of the poultry sector, several measures are being undertaken to improve genetics and disease resistance breeds of poultry, disease prevention and surveillance, and supply of affordable feed which constitute 65% to 70% of the cost of production of meat remain a challenge. While stating that the domestic poultry industry is likely to grow at a steady pace of 8%-10% in 2023-24, consulting firm ICRA in March this year had stated that earnings of poultry companies are expected to be volatile owing to fluctuations in the raw material or feed costs, especially maize. ICRA has stated that due to rising worldwide demand for Indian maize as a result of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and increased exports from India, maize prices have grown significantly by 32% on a year-on-year (YoY) basis in 2022-23, resulting in increase in average feed price.

Poultry feed mostly consists of maize, Bajra and broken rice (60-65%), soybean meal (30-35%) and nutrients. The mandi prices of maize because of rising demand for industrial use is ruling much above the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs.1962/quintal announced by the government for 2022-23 and Rs.2090/quintal for 2023-24 kharif season. Stating that there has been increasing diversion of maize towards industrial use and ethanol production, “the current growth level of maize and soybean production in the country will be insufficient to meet the demand of the poultry industry.” As the government plans to promote use of maize for ethanol, the poultry industry can face challenges in getting maize for feed.

Several poultry and livestock industry associations including All India Poultry Breeders Association, The Compound Livestock Feed Manufacturers Association, Poultry Federation of India, Vets in Poultry, are now Pitching for the government to allow imports of GM maize and soybean because of ‘unprecedented increase’ in prices. Regional Poultry Associations have also urged the central government for reduction in import duty on maize and soybean to deal with feed supplies. The industry feared that the prices of maize would spike in the coming months as the diversion of these raw materials for ethanol production is expected to increase as the government has reduced allocation of sugarcane for biofuel production.

In August 2021, the government had relaxed import rules to allow the first shipment of 1.2 MT of genetically modified (GM) soymeal to support the domestic poultry industry after a record spike in feed prices. Poultry industry has requested that the Government should allow both import and cultivation of GM Soybeans and Maize to fulfill the requirement of these two major feed ingredients. The sustainable supplies of feed ingredients in coming years would be crucial for the growth of the poultry industry.