Several new and old players in the Indian poultry sector are investing in processing plants as they want to tap into the growing demand for chicken in India. Asian Agribiz talks to Alok Raj, Principal Consultant at Aptec Technology Consulting on growth in the industry and what pitfalls many must look out for when investing in processing.

In this podcast, you will learn:
• The trend in poultry processing in India
• Automation in processing
• The challenges in starting a poultry processing plant in India
• What the future of Indian processing looks like

Good news for Asian poultry markets keeps rolling in. In last week’s In Focus podcast, we heard Arief Fachrudin talk about the 30% growth projected for South and Southeast Asian poultry markets. This week, the Rabobank Poultry Quarterly talks of a positive story for poultry in the latter part of the year as markets in Southeast and South Asia show accelerated growth in poultry meat consumption and disciplined supply growth.

How will Asian chicken economies embrace this opportunity?

The poultry markets in South and Southeast Asia are growing, with growth projected at 30% between 2023-2030. The drivers behind this growth are the regions’ robust economic outlook, population expansion, and a shift in consumer preference, which together present a golden investment opportunity.

Interestingly, the growth is not only about volume, but also value. In most countries in the two regions, the processed meat market is growing at double digit rates.

This is largely due to modern distribution networks and platforms, such as fast-expanding food service offerings, online food sales, and modern retail. These advancements are creating fertile ground for value addition and branding strategies, while opening numerous opportunities for producers to expand and move downstream. To stay ahead in this dynamic market, it is crucial to adapt and innovate.

Eggs can come into contact with bacteria such as Salmonella during the laying process or via environmental sources such as feces or feathers. Therefore, egg washing reduces the risk of contamination and makes eggs safe for consumption.

Although egg washing is not a common practice worldwide yet, Paul Buisman, Head of Innovation at Moba, tells Asian Agribiz that he believes this will be trending in Asia. In this podcast, he discusses the reasons, drawing on his extensive experience and knowledge in the field.

He also explains factors influencing the decision to wash or not to wash eggs and offers solutions from Moba for egg washing.

With caution, producers in the region are adopting generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) for better productivity, efficiency, and animal health. Considering the many benefits of the package, it is reasonable to say that Gen AI is here to stay.

Industry suppliers have also been active in innovations to help producers ride this tide and grow profitably. Our team has discovered many novel inventions at exhibitions and in interviews with professionals. These enhance accuracy, improve efficiency, and elevate productivity across the value chain.

Interest in crate-free gestation, or sow group housing, has increased recently due to animal welfare concerns. In Southeast Asia, most gestating sows are still confined in stalls that limit their movement during pregnancy. However, some key regional producers have already started converting parts of their operations to sow group housing. Asian Agribiz speaks with Nigel Godde, Director of Sales for Big Dutchman Asia, to learn more about crate-free gestation systems and their viability in the region.

The May 2024 Chief Economists Outlook, which explores key trends in the global economy, was launched last week amid a mood of cautious optimism tempered by uncertainty about geopolitical and domestic political developments. The latest results indicate growing business challenges despite a positive near-term growth outlook. However, the long-term prospects are encouraging. We recently observed a similar climate of cautious optimism at Ildex Vietnam and Thaifex-Anuga. Innovation and solutions are at a high point, but are producers investing?

Doug Korver, Professor Emeritus at the University of Alberta and President of Alpine Poultry Nutrition Inc in Canada, is doing a study on layers that are kept longer. As these are high producing birds and are relatively small, the practice puts pressure on their skeletal system and shell quality.

In this podcast, Dr Korver discusses with Asian Agribiz the nutritional interventions for these birds, including calcium and phosphorus supply, enzymes, and the physiology and bone biology as they go through a long production cycle.