Istanbul to host WVPA Africa & Middle East Meeting in 2026

20/03/2026

Istanbul will host the 3rd WVPA Africa & Middle East Meeting on September 2–4, 2026, as the poultry sector gathers under the theme “Sustainable Poultry Production from East to West.” Organized by the Turkish Branch of the World Veterinary Poultry Association, the event is expected to bring together scientists, veterinarians, producers and other industry stakeholders from across the region and beyond. 

The meeting will take place at Swissotel The Bosphorus Istanbul and is expected to attract more than 800 participants from Africa, the Middle East, Europe and other regions. According to the source text, the program will cover a wide range of topics shaping poultry production, including emerging diseases, reduced antibiotic use, microbiome and gut health, sustainable feeding strategies, alternative feed ingredients, climate-related pressures and biosecurity. 

The event also puts a spotlight on Turkiye’s poultry industry, which the document says has advanced significantly over the past three decades through integrated production systems, improved genetics, stronger veterinary services, modern nutrition programs and tighter biosecurity. That progress has helped position the country as a link between Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia in both poultry production and scientific exchange. 

In the source text, Prof. Dr. Pinar Sacakli, president of the Turkish Branch of WVPA, describes poultry as one of the fastest-growing livestock sectors globally, with sustainability, animal health and production efficiency taking on greater importance. Against that backdrop, the Istanbul meeting is set to serve as both a scientific platform and a networking point for regional collaboration.