The International Poultry Council (IPC) has just announced that Ricardo Santin is its new president. Santin is also the president of the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA). The ABPA is a powerful organization representing the interests of not only poultry producers in Brazil, but also of swine producers, and is now targeting all animal proteins in their upcoming SIAVS. Their actions have been forceful, like the rapid response of their first ever avian flu outbreak. Brazil has already been for several years, the largest chicken exporting nation in the world.
Santin is the first Brazilian to head the IPC – the world's largest poultry organization. The IPC brings together 54 members (including associations and companies) from 30 countries, representing more than 73% of global poultry meat production and more than 86% of the global poultry exports. According to their data, this amounts to 130 million metric tons (MT) produced per year, with a gross domestic product in the global production chain exceeding US$220 billion.
“The IPC is involved in all of the major debates of poultry production, which encompasses health issues, image promotion, and other topics," according to the ABPA.
This is the strength of the ABPA.
Santin is a long-standing executive of ABPA. I met him when he was the right arm of Francisco Turra at the then UBABEF. He is nothing more and nothing less than Turra, another outstanding and respectful driving force of the Brazilian poultry industry. It is since then (and surely before) that Santin has built his muscle in this scenario.
Ever since I met him, Santin has always been an open, friendly person, always willing to listen, collaborate and communicate in the several interviews I have had with him. Far from presumptuousness or pedantry – always with a smile on his face – he has always been willing to dedicate time to journalists and is proud to represent the poultry industry of his nation.
The fact that now a Brazilian is representing the world poultry industry is of paramount importance. It means a lot for Latin America, now that other Latin American nations are exporting or going down that road. I am sure he will continue the great work of his predecessors – the Canadian Robin Horel and Jim Sumner of the United States – and even go beyond.
Congrats Ricardo!
What do you think?
