Published on Oct. 28, 2025
A look back at the ERPA General Assembly in Bucharest: highlighting the role of the rural world in poultry breeding
Last month, the ERPA (European Rural Poultry Association), chaired by Louis Perrault, held its General Assembly in Bucharest, Romania. This meeting provided an opportunity for fruitful discussions with local poultry farmers in a country where this sector plays a fundamental role in the rural economy.
It was also an opportunity to highlight the importance of ERPA's work, which aims to raise awareness of the rural world among European authorities and defend its interests.
At the heart of the discussions was the history of global poultry breeding and its roots in the rural world. We learned more about the major genetic lines that dominate the market today, all of which originate from local breeds developed by pioneering farming families. Names such as Hubbard and Cobb, which originated in the United States, bear witness to this. France followed this trend after World War II, with a boom in breeding that led to the creation of the SNAA (Syndicat National des Aviculteurs Agréés), now known as SYSAAF.
The presentation also highlighted the various waves of consolidation in the sector, changes in the economic model, and Africa's growing role in village poultry farming. The APMI model, promoted by SASSO, was presented as a success story, with its starters, local entrepreneurs who distribute robust, vaccinated chickens to villages.
For SASSO, this General Assembly was particularly useful as it enabled us to showcase our contribution to rural development and strengthen our position in a European network committed to sustainable and inclusive poultry farming.
