XX National Poultry Congress in Medellín: Outstanding participation of Dutch companies and knowledge centers
From November 2nd to 4th the poultry industry came together in the most important event of this sector that took place in Medellín. The XX edition of the National Poultry Congress organized by the Colombian Poultry Farmers Association – FENAVI, counted with the participation of 13 Dutch companies gathered in the Dutch pavilion arranged by the Dutch Embassy in Colombia in collaboration with the Dutch-Colombian Chamber of Commerce - Holland House Colombia. The Dutch delegation had the opportunity to interact with different leading companies in the poultry sector of Colombia, in search of technology and knowledge transfer opportunities for local development through innovation and know-how from the Netherlands.
Four years after the participation of The Netherlands as country guest of honor in the last (in person) edition of the National Poultry Congress, the interest from the Dutch poultry industry in the Latin American country remains high. In total, 17 Dutch organizations partook in the trade fair as well as in the academic agenda. Nowadays the industry faces different challenges caused by, among others, the rise of input prices as a fallout of the conflict in the black sea region. Nevertheless, the poultry sector has continued to grow steadily in Colombia. The Executive President of FENAVI, Gonzalo Moreno, stated during the congress that it is expected to close this year with the highest chicken and egg production in history, with a record annual growth of 9%.
This milestone was achieved thanks to the excellent work of all the companies, and the sector openness towards collaboration with international stakeholders. According to Léontine Crisson, Agricultural Counselor of the Netherlands for Colombia, Ecuador and Peru: "the Embassy and FENAVI have been working to build up a sustainable value chain with universities and knowledge centers on different topics, for instance, animal welfare, insects rearing for animal feed as alternative protein sources to corn and soy, manure valorization, as well as antimicrobial resistance"
The companies that joined the Netherlands Embassy and the Holland House Colombia in the Dutch participation at the congress (also known as the Orange Experience) were: Hotraco (leader in automation systems); Ottevanger (supplier of food plants); MS Gold (animal hygiene products company); Royal GD Animal Health (leader in animal health); De Gier (manufacturer of traction systems); Viscon (automation supply company); Walinga (grain handling and transportation solutions company); Innovatec (company in charge of hatchery plants); Dutch Poultry Technology (design and installation company in the poultry processing and evisceration process); DSM (scientific company that helps in health and sustainable living) and Trouw Nutrition (leader in animal nutrition). The academic agenda was enhanced with the participation of four Dutch organizations: Rabobank, GD Animal Health, Innovo and Wageningen University and Research in topics such as protein transition, antimicrobial resistance, in ovo sexing and new market trends within the poultry sector.
This successful participation in the congress shows that the bond between the Netherlands and Colombia in the poultry industry is sound and reveals a promising future for technology and knowledge transfer in different areas.
If you want to know more about the projects developed by the LAN office in the poultry sector, please contact us at BOG-LNV@minbuza.nl