Research and development in 2000: directions and priorities for the world's poultry science community

The challenges and targets facing the world's poultry science community in the immediate future are reviewed in the context of meeting the dietary needs for animal protein of the world population. The prior need to provide for the increasing demand for cereals, oil seeds, and grain legumes for human consumption is assessed at having a reasonable chance of success. If this need is met, the requirement for extra feed resources for increased poultry production targets is also assessed as having a reasonable chance of success. A major component of this equation is the prediction of improved efficiency of poultry production of a similar order to that of the last 50 yr arising from 1) extension of the 20th century revolution in poultry technology to over 50% of the world population compared with the present 20 to 25%; 2) recent advances in genetics, nutrition, health, housing, and husbandry still awaiting application in industry; 3) future applications from current and future research in molecular biotechnology, nutrition, health, and reproduction; and 4) the development of efficient, small-scale, extensive poultry production systems especially in countries where over 25% of the world population will still not be able to afford the products of a modern, intensive poultry industry, even in 50 yr. These challenges, targets, and predictions simply cannot be met unless the world's poultry science community increases its own efficiency, its professional initiatives to deal with the real challenges, and its social initiatives to influence socio-economic decisions on national and world stages.