Every four years the World’s Poultry Science Association brings together the leading figures in poultry science in a host country. We review below what the last WPC was – the 26th edition held in Paris in summer 2022 – and what the upcoming 27th edition, in July 2026 in Toronto, Canada, will be.
Dr. Joaquim Brufau
IRTA
Joaquim.Brufau@irta.cat
2022
WPC PARIS 2022: A DIGITALISED CONGRESS
Following the Covid-19 pandemic and the measures taken to contain and reduce the inherent risk, the two-year delay in holding the 26th WPSA World Poultry Congress in Paris means we must now report on an event that took place in 2022.
During this delay, the Congress organisation maintained a series of online scientific seminars on specific topics. This entire process of producing non-in-person seminars (webinars) drove the adoption of telematic communication systems.
The accumulated experience allowed WPC 2022 to be delivered both in person and in a fully telematic format. This format has likely brought about a change for most in-person participants that will shape the future of such events. For example, the scientific information from the lectures and papers presented was not compiled into a printed proceedings volume, as had been traditional at previous congresses, although it remains accessible online.
Posters were presented in telematic format via 20 screens with search functionality through a simple and user-friendly system. This system allowed attendees to contact the author and conduct an interview with them. All presentations had been recorded and were made available to interested parties through the Congress website (WPCPARIS2022.COM) until 31 December 2022; regrettably, this website is no longer active. However, at the time of the Congress not all presentations were available, and some of the keynote lectures were delivered in pre-recorded format.
The congress was held at the Palais des Congrès de Paris, located at Porte Maillot, which had already served as the venue for the 1986 edition of the European Poultry Conference. Today it is a refurbished venue with a large capacity, featuring a main auditorium seating 4,000 people, although this was only used for the opening ceremony and the four plenary sessions on Monday. All remaining parallel sessions, including symposia sponsored by various companies, were held in rooms with a capacity of no more than 300 seats.
According to the organisers, total attendance at the 2022 Congress was approximately 3,000 people, although no delegate list was provided, as had been customary at other WPSA events, with the exception of the most recent event in Beijing.
Spanish participation was slightly above 40 people, with the youth of the attendees being particularly noteworthy.
Commercial sponsorship of the Congress was extensive, with 33 companies providing financial support. The majority were companies from the animal nutrition and health sector, along with some from the genetics sector and three from the communications sector. The Congress received institutional support from the main French poultry organisations – ANSES, INRA, ITAVI and SYSAAF – as well as from the City of Paris.
The scientific presentations covered a wide diversity of topics, as is traditionally the case at other world-level events. The plenary sessions addressed a broad range of subjects including economic sustainability, poultry health and welfare, the microbiota, production strategies, and new frontiers for poultry science, held throughout every day of the Congress.
Based on the topics of the keynote and parallel sessions, it could be said that the central theme running through the Congress was the interaction between nutritional aspects and the structural barrier of the digestive tract, immunity, and the microbiome. Other notable topics included studies on sustainability, innovation strategies, product quality, adaptation to climate change, and alternative protein ingredients, among others.
As a whole, the Congress content was structured into a first block covering keynote presentations, goal-oriented “parallel” sessions and specialised sessions, and a second block for abstracts of oral communications and posters, the former spanning nearly 400 pages and the latter just over 600.
Regarding the keynote presentations, a total of 11 were presented across 5 sessions, while the 12 “parallel” sessions covered 15 presentations and the 23 specialised sessions an equal number of papers.
With respect to oral communications and posters, the total encompassed nearly 500 abstracts, with France leading with 73 (as is usually the case for the host country), followed by the United States, Belgium, Spain (28 papers) and Germany among the top five countries. In total, 53 countries submitted at least one paper in this section, and while the quality of some may be open to question, this illustrates the scale of this Congress, which is open to participants from across the globe.
In conclusion, WPC 2022 Paris was a high-level scientific event and the outcome was positive despite the prior difficulties caused by the COVID pandemic. Delegate participation was very active and the proportion of young attendees was also remarkable, with some very interesting innovations on display.
Furthermore, at the WPSA General Assembly held during the Congress, two important decisions were taken:
- The election of the new WPSA Council to replace the previous one, comprising Michèle Tixier-Boixard (France) as the new President, Peter Van Horne (Netherlands) as Secretary, the re-election of Francine Bradley (Treasurer), and the addition of five new council members.
- The vote to select the venue for the next World Congress, contested between Toronto (Canada) and Cape Town (Republic of South Africa), with the former emerging victorious, albeit by a very narrow margin over the latter.
“Paris is well worth a Mass”, as a King of France once said many years ago……
2026
The World Poultry Congress (WPC) 2026: An Essential Appointment in Toronto, Canada
From 13 to 17 July 2026, Toronto will become the global epicentre of poultry science with the holding of the World Poultry Congress (WPC) 2026. This event will be a fundamental pillar for the various scientific disciplines related to poultry science, covering a wide range of research topics. Industry professionals, scientists, academics, students and other stakeholders will gather to exchange ideas, share knowledge and strengthen collaborative networks.
Toronto, known as the economic, innovative and cultural heart of Canada, offers an ideal environment for the event. The city, with its multicultural roots and a vibrant artistic and innovative scene, promises attendees new experiences and discoveries, even for those who have visited before.
A cutting-edge scientific programme
The WPC 2026 scientific committee is preparing an extensive and varied poultry science programme covering the most relevant and current topics in the field of poultry science. Abstract submissions will be sought for key areas including:
- Reproduction and breeder management.
- Incubation technology, chick quality and early management.
- Meat processing, quality and food safety.
- Egg science and processing.
- Environmental impact of production and housing systems.
- Bone health, animal welfare and behaviour.
- Nutrition: amino acids, proteins, enzymes, vitamins, minerals and feed additives.
- Genetics, genomics and epigenomics.
- Gut microbiome and general health.
- Innovation and technology: AI, big data, robotics, and more.
- Small-scale family poultry farming.
The abstract submission period will be open from 2 June to 1 September 2025.
Why attend WPC 2026?
The World Poultry Congress represents a unique opportunity to:
- Access the latest scientific and technological advances in the industry.
- Connect with professionals and experts from around the world.
- Explore innovative solutions to current challenges.
- Strengthen collaborative networks in a dynamic and multicultural environment.
- Contribute to the future of the sector through impactful discussions and presentations.
Source:
-. Dr. Joaquim Brufau
IRTA
Joaquim.Brufau@irta.cat
For further information:
-. View all upcoming poultry events at NeXusAvicultura.com