VIP’s 3rd National Symposium Charts Roadmap for a Resilient and Future-Ready Poultry Industry

Pashu Sandesh, 11^th June 2026

Vets in Poultry (VIP) successfully hosted its 3^rd  National Symposium 2026 at the Sheraton Grand, Rajajinagar, Bengaluru, bringing together leading poultry industry stakeholders, veterinarians, academicians, researchers, policymakers, entrepreneurs, students, and international delegates to deliberate on the future of India's poultry sector.

Held under the theme “Future Ready Poultry: Managing Risks, Maximizing Resilience,” the symposium served as a premier platform for scientific exchange, strategic dialogue, and industry collaboration, focusing on strengthening the resilience, sustainability, and global competitiveness of Indian poultry.

Welcoming the gathering, Dr. C.B. Pathak, Vice President, VIP, highlighted the evolution of VIP into a vibrant technical platform committed to advancing poultry science, veterinary excellence, and industry development. He emphasized the importance of collective action in addressing emerging challenges and unlocking future growth opportunities.

Dr. Santosh Ire, Secretary, VIP, reflected on the organisation's journey as a national technical body dedicated to empowering poultry veterinary professionals through knowledge sharing, continuing education, networking, and scientific advancement.

In his presidential address, Dr. Ajay Deshpande, President, VIP, noted that the poultry industry stands at a critical juncture where innovation, risk management, and collaboration will define future success. He stressed that building resilience across the value chain is essential to navigating evolving disease threats, market dynamics, consumer expectations, and technological disruption.

Delivering the keynote address, Prof. (Dr.) K.C. Veeranna, Vice-Chancellor, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, underscored the critical role of education, research, and innovation in shaping the future of the poultry sector. He called for stronger academia-industry partnerships, skill development initiatives, and the adoption of emerging technologies.

Prof. (Dr.) P.K. Shukla, President of the Indian Poultry Science Association, Chairman of FSSAI Scientific Panel-13, and former Joint Commissioner (Poultry), Government of India, delivered a special address emphasizing science-based decision-making, robust biosecurity frameworks, quality assurance systems, and supportive policy interventions to enhance India's global poultry competitiveness.

The symposium's Chief Guest ,Mr. Arjun Devaiah Theethamada, CEO of Abhimanyu Academy, South Asian Games Gold Medallist, and nine-time National Champion, inspired participants by drawing parallels between competitive sports and entrepreneurship. He highlighted resilience, discipline, adaptability, and continuous learning as essential attributes for sustained success in a rapidly changing world.

Promoting Protein Awareness Through Youth Engagement

A key highlight of the event was the successful conclusion of VIP’s 1st National Short Video Competition, designed to engage students in promoting protein awareness and scientific communication.

The competition encouraged young participants to advocate for protein security and highlight the nutritional importance of eggs and chicken as affordable, high-quality protein sources while countering misinformation through evidence-based messaging.

The winners were:

• Mr. Kankatav Siddheshwar Dinkar – Rs. 25,000
• Mr. Chilkuri Manish Reddy – Rs. 20,000
• Ms. Kumari Sanjana – Rs. 15,000
• Mr. Ishan Barik – Rs.15,000

Special Recognition was awarded to Mr. Shiva Holikeri.

Technical Sessions Address Key Industry Priorities

The symposium featured expert-led sessions covering critical areas shaping the future of the poultry industry:

• Future of Indian Poultry – Growth, Markets & Trade by Mr. K.G. Anand, General Manager, Venkateshwara Hatcheries Pvt. Ltd.
• Farm Productivity & Operational Excellence by Dr. Ajay Deshpande, President VIP  and Founder & Director, Siddhivinayak Poultry Breeding Farm and Hatcheries, Pvt. Ltd.
• Consumer Perception, Branding & Market Expansion by Mr. Sameer Agarwal, Managing Director, Shalimar Group
• Poultry Health, Biosecurity & One Health by Dr. Gowthaman, Associate Professor, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Salem
• Human Capital & Industry Transformation by Mr. Ashok Kumar, Managing Director, MAA Integrators

The sessions explored emerging opportunities in exports, feed economics, precision farming, branding, disease management, digital transformation, and workforce development.

Industry Leaders Discuss the Path from Survival to Scale

One of the most engaging segments of the symposium was the panel discussion on “Future Ready Poultry – Survival to Scale,” moderated by Prof. (Dr.) P.K. Shukla.

The distinguished panel brought together leaders from across the poultry value chain to discuss sustainability, scalability, farmer profitability, exports, innovation, biosecurity, and leadership.

A common theme emerged from the discussion: the future growth of Indian poultry will depend on scientific management, resilient supply chains, technology adoption, farmer empowerment, skilled manpower, and stronger collaboration among industry stakeholders.

Panellists emphasised that while the sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience, the next phase of growth will require data-driven decision-making, sustainable nutrition strategies, improved traceability, enhanced disease surveillance, and greater alignment with global standards.

Panel Discussion – Quotabe Quotes 

Moderator – Prof. (Dr. )P. K. Shukla
“The future of Indian poultry depends on scientific management, policy support, biosecurity excellence and strong industry-academia collaboration. Sustainability and scalability must progress together.”

Mr. O. P. Singh

“Technology adoption and operational efficiency are no longer optional but essential for sustainable poultry growth. Integrators must focus on innovation-driven productivity.”

Mr. Valsan Parameswaran

“India has immense potential to emerge as a significant poultry exporter. Quality standards, traceability and global market preparedness will be key drivers of future success.”

Dr. Vishal Singh Rawat

“The next phase of poultry development will be led by data-driven decision making, precision farming and smart production systems that improve profitability and resilience.”

Mr. T. Srinithi

“Feed accounts for the largest share of production costs. Sustainable nutrition strategies and supply chain stability will play a crucial role in protecting industry margins.”

Dr. Mahesh P.S.

“Strong regulatory support, disease surveillance and coordinated stakeholder efforts are essential to safeguard poultry growth and farmer confidence.”

Ranpal Dhanda

“Farmer sustainability must remain at the center of industry growth. A resilient poultry sector can only be built when farmers are empowered with knowledge, technology and fair returns.”

Mr. Divya Kumar Gulati

“Feed quality and innovation will continue to shape poultry performance. The industry must focus on efficiency, sustainability and responsible resource utilization.”

Mr. Uday Singh Bayas

“Industry associations have a vital role in uniting stakeholders and addressing common challenges. Collective action is necessary for long-term sectoral progress.”

Dr. Jeetendra Varma

“Global poultry trends indicate increasing emphasis on animal welfare, biosecurity and sustainability. India must align with global best practices while maintaining competitiveness.”

Dr. Meganathan

“Regional poultry sectors offer immense growth opportunities. Strengthening grassroots veterinary support and farmer education will accelerate inclusive development.”

Dr. Damodar Pattath

“Health management remains the foundation of poultry success. Prevention through biosecurity and proactive disease monitoring is always more effective than treatment.”

Dr. Swati Karki

“Consumer expectations are evolving rapidly. Innovation, transparency and science-based communication will define the future relationship between producers and consumers.”

Mr. Naveen Pasuparthy

“Entrepreneurship and value-chain integration will create the next generation of poultry leaders. Agility and innovation will be critical for scaling businesses successfully.”

Concluding Session

Summarising the key takeaways, Prof. (Dr.) Ajit Ranade, Advisor, VIP, emphasised the importance of translating insights into actionable outcomes and commended the industry's readiness to embrace innovation and tackle future challenges collectively.

The symposium concluded with a vote of thanks by Major (Dr.) Vinod Kumar, who acknowledged the contributions of speakers, delegates, sponsors, exhibitors, media partners, industry associations, academic institutions, and the VIP organizing team.

Looking Ahead

The 3rd National Symposium reaffirmed the poultry sector's commitment to scientific excellence, innovation, and collaboration. The event concluded with a shared vision of building a resilient, sustainable, and globally competitive poultry industry capable of meeting future challenges while capitalising on emerging opportunities.