Toronto, Canada – During the World’s Poultry Congress, aviNews International had the opportunity to interview Dr. Carlos Garcés, Distinguished Poultry Professor at Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera. According to Dr. Garcés, strengthening collaboration across countries, scientific disciplines, and sectors will be essential for addressing the increasingly complex challenges facing the global poultry industry.
International Collaboration Accelerates Scientific Progress
As poultry production continues to face evolving challenges ranging from animal health and nutrition to sustainability and emerging technologies, Dr. Garcés believes that no single institution, discipline, or country can develop solutions independently. Instead, meaningful progress depends on building strong international networks that encourage scientists, veterinarians, researchers, and industry professionals to exchange knowledge and experiences.
According to Dr. Garcés, collaboration is equally valuable across geographical regions. While production systems and local challenges may differ, many countries face similar issues that can often be addressed by sharing successful strategies and scientific findings. By learning from one another, researchers and producers can avoid duplicating efforts, accelerate innovation, and adapt proven solutions to their own production systems.
Bridging the Gap Between Research and Industry
Scientific research remains one of the principal drivers of innovation in poultry production. However, Dr. Garcés stressed that research can only achieve its full value when it addresses practical industry needs. Maintaining a close relationship between universities, research institutions, and commercial poultry companies ensures that scientific discoveries are translated into technologies and management practices that improve flock performance and production efficiency. While acknowledging that some scientific investigations must focus on fundamental research whose applications may only become evident in the future, he emphasized that continuous dialogue between researchers and producers helps prioritize the most relevant challenges facing the industry today. This interaction not only guides research priorities but also facilitates the dissemination of scientific knowledge, ensuring that new findings reach the producers who can benefit most from them.
Artificial Intelligence Represents the Next Major Transformation
Among the emerging technologies influencing poultry production, Dr. Garcés identified artificial intelligence (AI) as the development with the greatest potential to transform the industry. He described AI as an exceptionally powerful tool capable of improving decision-making, research, and production efficiency. However, he also cautioned that its successful implementation will depend on responsible and informed use. Rather than replacing traditional expertise in poultry health, nutrition, or production management, AI should complement existing scientific knowledge by providing new ways to analyze data, identify patterns, and support more informed decisions. As digital technologies continue to evolve, Dr. Garcés believes the poultry sector must learn how to maximize their benefits while remaining aware of their limitations and ensuring they are applied responsibly.
Supporting the Next Generation of Poultry Professionals
Looking toward the future, Dr. Garcés emphasized that young scientists, veterinarians, and poultry professionals will play a decisive role in shaping the industry’s continued development. His primary advice for early-career professionals is simple: collaborate. Rather than working in isolation, he encouraged young researchers to build relationships across disciplines, institutions, and countries, recognizing that today’s poultry challenges increasingly require multidisciplinary solutions. By engaging with colleagues from diverse backgrounds, young professionals gain access to new perspectives, complementary expertise, and opportunities to contribute to larger research initiatives with global impact.
WPSA Continues to Strengthen Education and Global Knowledge Exchange
Dr. Garcés also highlighted the central role of the World Poultry Science Association in promoting scientific collaboration and education worldwide. Through its international congresses, scientific meetings, educational activities, and research support programs, WPSA provides opportunities for professionals at every stage of their careers to exchange knowledge and establish lasting professional networks. One initiative he considers particularly important is the association’s continued investment in young scientists through travel grants and research support programs. These initiatives enable students and early-career researchers to participate in international scientific meetings, present their work, interact with experienced scientists, and build collaborations that extend well beyond individual conferences.
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