School of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Karla Georges, Director of The UWI-SVM hands over the MOU to Ms. Nisa Surujbally, Executive Director of the CPA, in the presence of lecturers, Dr. Shayne Ramsubeik and Dr. Anil Persad, Head Department of Clinical Veterinary Sciences.

An erstwhile informal relationship between the Caribbean Poultry Association (CPA) and The University of the West Indies School of Veterinary Medicine (UWI-SVM) has now been made official via the establishment of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), through which both entities will collaborate and cooperate in various areas of mutual interest, including research, professional development programmes, training and public education, student internship and exchanges in pursuit of their respective objectives and goals for the benefit of the poultry industry in the Caribbean.

Activities under the MOU will kick off in January 2025 with the sponsorship of Dr. Shayne Ramsubeik and two students to participate in the International Production and Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta, USA, supported by the CPA and the Latin American Poultry Association (ALA). The IPPE is the world’s largest annual poultry, feed and meat technology exposition with over 1,300 exhibitors. The team will attend scientific seminars and be exposed to the latest technological advancements in the poultry industry.

The parties resolved to execute the MoU via annual work programmes that will focus initially on the small producers. It was agreed that a Manual on Management Practices that addresses some of the critical concerns in poultry rearing – heat stress, biosecurity, antimicrobial resistance, nutrition and sustainability – would be developed as a guide for training sessions in the various territories. In addition, Members of the CPA will provide support and permit students to conduct research activities on their operations aimed at data collection, analysis and interventions that will foster improved performance and efficiencies.

The CPA and the UWI SVM are committed to the continued growth and development of the largest agribusiness in the Caribbean Community and to the sharing of resources and skills that will deliver a more sustainable and resilient poultry sector.

Caribbean Poultry Association

https://www.caribbeanpoultry.org/

December 9, 2024