Latin American countries will celebrate Latin American Poultry Day every year on the first Friday in July.
The region’s poultry sector is contributing to overcoming one of the biggest problems in the world: hunger.
Latin America produced 27 million tons of chicken in 2020, while apparent per capita consumption in the region reached 30.48 kilos.
The Extraordinary General Assembly of the Latin American Poultry Farming Association (ALA) held on July 2 declared for Latin American Poultry Day to be celebrated throughout the region every year on the first Friday in July. Luis Valle Coello, President of ALA, shared the news.
In his message, Valle Coello stated that declaring the Latin American Poultry Day seeks to underscore the regional poultry sector’s contribution to overcoming one of the most relevant problems worldwide: hunger, recognized as such by FAO.
Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that 25,000 people die every day around the world from hunger-related causes and poor diet, and 800 million people endure chronic hunger worldwide. “Latin America does not escape from this reality,” he added.
Valle Coello also stated that the United Nations estimates that the population will grow by around 30% by 2050, which means a 60% increase in demand for food according to FAO’s calculations. According to Coello, poultry farming in Latin America is being called upon to cover a large part of this increase, not only within the region but for the world.
“This is why it is of utmost importance to stress and convey to the entire population the importance of increasing production and consumption of animal proteins such as chicken, to inform the public using facts and evidence of the contribution to people’s physical and cognitive health,” said Valle Coello.
The representative of Latin American poultry farmers highlighted the role played by the poultry industry in the region’s economy, as it contributes to job creation and sustainable development, thereby supporting the preservation of the environment and the fulfillment of the SDGs that all countries have committed to.
APA’s event was attended by international organizations such as: the International Poultry Council (IPC), the World Organization for Animal Health for the Americas (OIE), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), and FAO Honduras.
The Declaration of the Latin American Poultry Day approved by ALA’s Assembly reads in part:
- Chicken, in its various forms, constitutes an irreplaceable source of animal protein, scientifically recognized as one of the most important nutrients for the human body, and is responsible for human development and sustenance.
- Chicken protein is responsible for the human body’s chemical and metabolic processes, including the production of antibodies as well as the regulation of protective factors against foreign and infectious agents.
- The chicken industry is responsible for the most produced and consumed protein, thus guaranteeing food and nutritional security of the Latin American people.
- In Latin America and the Caribbean, chicken is part of the cultural and culinary tradition of its peoples, with strong roots and a sense of belonging.
- In Latin America and the Caribbean, chicken production, distribution, and trade represent an important source of employment, and therefore, a source of income and a contribution to the social and economic improvement of its population and a viable alternative to eradicate poverty.
Chicken production in Latin America amounted to 27 million tons in 2020, while apparent per capita consumption in the region reached 30.48 kilos that same year.
The members of ALA are: Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Grenada, Guyana, Honduras, El Salvador, Ecuador, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Paraguay, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Source: Latin American Poultry Farming Association
