From 2022 and 2026, the Italian Branch of WPSA has been particularly active in: organizing national and international scientific events, promoting training and education to the next generation of scientists and professionals, supporting collaboration within Europe and globally, addressing sustainability and innovation issues in poultry production, strengthened knowledge transfer between academia and industry. The details of these activities are outlined below.
National activities
- 56th Annual Meeting – “Are we pushing broilers to their biological limits?” – Rimini, April 22nd, 2022 – Focus on broiler growth limits and efficiency, gut health and metabolic constraints, implications of genetic selection (Speakers: I. Leinonen, Natural Resources Institute, Finland; Svihus, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway; F. Van Immerseel, Ghent University, Belgium; M. Petracci, University of Bologna, Italy; A. Cahaner, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel).
The annual meeting with WPSA members was held at the end of the event.
- 57th Annual Meeting – (2nd Joint Meeting Italian branch of WPSA & Italian Society of Avian Pathology) – “New technologies and perspectives of in-ovo sexing” – Rimini, May 6th, 2022 – Focus on advancing technological and practical solutions for in-ovo sexing, with the aim of improving animal welfare, sustainability, and efficiency in the poultry sector. (Speakers: J. Gautron, University of Tours, France; Y. Alter, Soos Technology, Israel; G. Bagnara, Assoavi, Italy).
- Joint Meeting of Italian branch of WPSA, Italian Society of Avian Pathology and Italian Association of Rabbit Science – “Sustainability and innovation in the poultry and rabbit food chains” – Rimini, May 4th, 2023 – Focus on focused on how to make poultry and rabbit food chains more sustainable, efficient, and innovative, through the integration of research, technology, and practical farming solutions (Speakers: T. Norton, KU Leuven, Belgium; S. Cavet, Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, Spain; U. Hofstetter, Biomin, Austria; P. Ferrari, CRPA, Italy).
- 58th Annual Meeting – “Italian poultry and rabbit production: sustainability and transferability worldwide” – Rimini – May 10th, 2024 – Focus on sustainable and innovative Italian poultry and rabbit production systems, with particular emphasis on their transferability and adaptation in international contexts (Speakers: L. Buttazzoni, CREA, Rome, Italy; M. Cassandro, University of Padova, Italy; S. Bosman, Poultry Vet. The Netherland; A. Scolari, Laboratorio Vallerana srl, Italy; C. Castellini and S. Giovannini, University of Perugia, Italy, P. Ferrari, CRPA, Italy; A. Concollato, Unaitalia, Italy)
The annual meeting with WPSA members was held at the end of the event.
- 59th Annual Meeting – “Are we pushing broilers to their biological limits?” – Lodi, February, 28th, 2025 – Focus on critically assessing whether modern broiler production is approaching—or exceeding—biological and ethical limits, and how to redefine sustainable and responsible poultry production (Speakers: I. Kyriazakis, Queen’s University Belfast, UK; N. Khaldoune, AVEC, Belgium; R. Pedicone, Unaitalia, Italy; A. Domenici, Unaitalia, Italy; L. Rossi, Aviagen, Italy; L. D’Orsi, Amadori Group, S. Mattioli, University of Perugia, Italy; M. Zampiga, University of Bologna, Italy, M. Birolo, University of Padova, Italy).
The annual meeting with WPSA members was held at the end of the event.
- First Edition of the “Italian Poultry Week” – Bertinoro, November, 24th–28th November 2025 – Target group: young researchers and professionals of the poultry sector (<40 years old). Activities: lectures by national and international experts, technical visits, networking with poultry industry. Focus on delivering high-level education and practical insights on modern poultry production, with special emphasis on innovation and sustainability. Participants: 35 selected candidates.
- Final congress of the “Italian Poultry Week” – Bertinoro, November 28th, 2025 – Focus on innovative approaches in poultry nutrition and feeding behavior, combined with scientific exchange and support for the next generation of researchers in poultry science (Speakers: Svihus, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway, C. Garces-Narro, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Valencia, Spain).
The annual meeting with WPSA members was held at the end of the event.
- Technical Seminar – “The physical side of poultry feed” – Forlì, May 8th, 2026 – Focus on how the physical properties of feed, beyond its nutritional composition, play a crucial role in poultry performance, health, and production efficiency (Speakers: B. Svihus, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway, S. Artelt, MTSE GmbH, Germany).
International activities
- XXIII European Symposium on Poultry Nutrition – Rimini, June, 21st-24th, 2023 – Focus on Poultry nutrition, feed innovation, sustainability. Participation: about 1,800 delegates from 90 countries.
- Joint scientific session during the 75th EAAP Annual Meeting – Firenze, September 1st-5th, 2024. “Slow-growing meat-type and dual purpose genotypes for conventional and alternative farming systems in the EU” – (Invited speakers: C. Castellini, University of Perugia, Italy, C. Bonnefous, INRAE, France).
Governance and Organization
Renewal of the Board – Election was held during the annual meeting with WPSA members (May 10th, 2024, Rimini). The new leadership is the following: Massimiliano Petracci (President), Franco Calini (Vice-President), Federico Sirri (Secretary).
Prof. Federico Sirri
Secretary/treasurer of Italian Branch of WPSA