The US Soybean Export Council (USSEC)’s Soy Excellence Center (SEC) India and Karnataka Poultry Farmers and Breeders Association (KPFBA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate work-force training and capacity building within India’s rapidly growing poultry sector, according to a recent press release. 

Reflecting on the significance of this partnership, USSEC’s CEO, Jim Sutter offered, “The foundation of our success with USSEC’s Soy Excellence Centers is in collaborating with industry experts. I am confident that this MoU between USSEC and KPFBA will open new avenues of innovation, progress and productivity for India’s poultry industry.”

Economic growth through skills training

Aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Skills India’ initiative, this MoU will create opportunities for young protein professionals in India to advance in their careers, have access to a global curriculum and be future-ready while producing more sustainably. With 68% of its population in the 15-64 age group, the opportunity to harness the nation’s economic dividend seems promising. Having a shared vision of developing the next generation of protein professionals, KPFBA and USSEC’s SEC MoU will lay the foundation for continuous learning, knowledge sharing and boosting the progress and economic growth of the poultry industry.

Meeting the growing demand for protein

Home to the world’s largest population, India’s poultry sector recognizes the importance of keeping pace with the rising demand for animal protein and eggs. In 2022, India’s poultry production was estimated at 4.95 million tonnes. Through this strategic partnership USSEC and KPFBA are on a mission of advancing India’s poultry industry through upskilling, skills trainings and community learning.

On signing of the MoU, Naveen Pasuparthy, President of Karnataka Poultry Farmers and Breeders Association (KPFBA) in India added, “This MoU enables KPFBA to offer access to digital online training programs delivered by global experts reaching every nook and corner of India’s poultry and feed milling sector. These programs and the delivery mechanism will help in workforce training, upskilling and capacity-building, for India’s rapidly growing poultry and feed milling sector. KPFBA also gets the opportunity to share, design and curate new programs with USSEC that can be delivered seamlessly on such a digital platform. It’s a pleasure for KPFBA to collaborate with USSEC on such initiatives.”

Empowering the next generation of protein experts

As a part of the MoU, USSEC’s SEC program will provide training to KFBPA members on SEC’s digital platform. Participants will also have access to SEC’s exclusive global community called SEC Pods for networking and learning. KFBPA’s members will also be able to attend in-person SEC courses.

In return, KPFBA will facilitate in promoting SEC’s training programs among its members while ensuring continuous engagement and tracking of progress. Additionally, KPFBA will also facilitate in providing access to facilities and subject matter experts for collaborative trainings of mutual interest.

Cultivating success through collaboration

Since its launch earlier this year, the SEC in India has also established the Regional Advisory Council (RAC) - a panel of 14 experts that provide guidance on course content and insights about the industry’s needs. The SEC in India is rapidly gaining momentum and to date has already trained more than 600 professionals across its feed milling, poultry and soy foods tracks. These steps illustrate SEC’s role in enabling innovation and building a more food-secure India.