Brazil tightens poultry bonds with SA

The seminar, entitled 'Brazil: A World Leader in Poultry Production', was attended by members of the South African food and retail sector.

Over the last 10 years, Brazilian poultry imports have played a significant role in maintaining a balance in South African market prices, by fulfilling its need for additional raw materials.

Analysis reveals that mechanically deboned meat comprises 42.19% of these imports. This product is a classic input for the food processing industry and the import of additional product to meet demand, contributes to the development of the local food processing industry, generating local jobs and taxes in its wake.

"Of the poultry imported to supplement demand in South Africa, Brazilian poultry accounts for 73%, with the balance being supplied by countries that include Argentina, Canada and England. Brazil's market leadership in this instance is an indication of both the quality of our product and the strength of the longstanding trade relationship between these two developing nations," says Adriano Zerbini of UBABEF.

The poultry industry is one of Brazil's largest and most important industries and export sectors and employs some 4.5 million people, direct and indirectly. In 2010, it produced 12.3 million tonnes of poultry, of which 39% was exported to more than 150 countries around the globe.

Given the importance of this industry, the country naturally pays close attention to issues of quality, animal health, biosecurity and sustainability.

Local farming support underpins Brazilian market

Zerbini explains, "Brazil succeeds in maintaining strict control of sanitary, hygiene, environmental and animal welfare practices, while including thousands of small producers in our sophisticated poultry chain. We achieve this by partnering farmers with agro-industries and meat processing cooperatives. The companies supply chicks, feed, veterinary services, health assistance and production management to farmers, who provide their facilities, equipment and workforce and raise the poultry to the required weight and size, for delivery to these partners.

"Farms are supervised, monitored and inspected regularly by agro-industries to ensure good manufacturing practices are observed and that the comfort and health of poultry remains uncompromised. This, coupled with the observance of both local and international production and food safety protocols along the poultry chain, ensures end-to-end quality control, traceability and ultimately a world-class product."

Poultry rising to staple protein

Poultry continues to play an important role in feeding the world's population. Nan-Dirk Mulder an economic analyst at Rabobank, a specialist agribusiness financial services institution, projects that chicken will become the most consumed animal protein in the world over the next 20 years.

This projection has significant implications when viewed against the study "How to Feed the World in 2050" conducted by FAO, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, which cites a projected increase in the global population from approximately 7 billion to 9 billion in the next 40 years. The study further estimates that by 2050, the global per capita consumption of meat should increase from 41 kg to 52 kg per annum.

Already, chicken is the most consumed meat in Brazil as well as in many other countries. In 2010, Brazil's per capita consumption of chicken meat paralleled that of the US, at 44 kg versus the 29.9 kg of 2000.

"As global demand for poultry product increases, Brazil is well placed to continue serving as a key partner to countries that require imported product to supplement shortfalls in their own production. Our product is top quality, proven and in demand.

"It remains our pleasure and privilege to do business with our South and Southern African food industry partners, and we look forward to continued support from this region and to strengthening a trade partnership that yields indisputable mutual benefit," concludes Zerbini

For more information, go to www.brazilianchicken.com.br