Enhancing Poultry Production and Food Security in Cuba
As the largest poultry producer in the Caribbean and a key region for wild bird migration, Cuba holds significant potential for advancing food security and disease prevention in the hemisphere. The World Poultry Foundation (WPF) recognizes that collaborating with the Cuban poultry industry not only benefits Cuba but also strengthens regional efforts to reduce disease transmission, boost production, and enhance food security.
Cuba’s poultry sector faces notable challenges, including limited access to high-quality feed, outdated genetic stock, insufficient vaccines, and inefficiencies in farm management and biosecurity. These issues result in inconsistent production levels, leaving small-scale producers struggling to meet the country’s demand for eggs and poultry meat—staples critical to the nutrition of children and women.
To address these challenges, WPF has been actively engaged with Cuban partners since 2018. Partnering with la Asociación Cubana de Producción Animal (ACPA), WPF has worked to understand the local poultry landscape, share insights into biosecurity practices, and raise awareness about Avian Influenza.
In 2023, WPF and ACPA co-hosted a virtual workshop series in Havana, covering essential topics such as poultry management, feed composition, nutrition, and on-farm biosecurity. These workshops aimed to equip farmers with the tools to prevent zoonotic diseases, including Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), which poses risks to human health and regional ecosystems.
In 2024, WPF launched an update to the Feed Mixer App (link), customized for Cuban farmers to incorporate locally available, alternative feed ingredients. This innovative tool enables farmers to create nutritionally balanced feed tailored to the specific needs of their flocks. In a region with limited access to affordable, high-quality feed, the Feed Mixer App is especially impactful.
