Last year, Brazil's chicken exports earned more than those from the US for the first time, even though 400,000 tonnes less was shipped from Brazil than from the US. This year, further growth is expected.

To reach the centre of the consumer's plate you have to be invited. The way to get that invitation is to know your customers and consumers better than anyone else and to offer better quality, prices, customer service and innovation That is how John Tyson, chairman and chief executive officer of the US meat giant Tyson Foods Inc. sees the strategy to capture the market.

The EU is one of the major poultry meat producing regions in the world. However, the contribution to global production has decreased considerably over the past three decades in spite of a remarkable dynamic. It is the objective of this paper to analyse the patterns of poultry meat production and trade in the EU and to compare them with the situation on a global scale.

Poultry meat has a very strategic position in the economy of North Africa. Depending on the country it represents 40 to 44% of the total meat production and consumption. All three countries in this region, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, are self-sufficient, with increasing professionalism and investment possibilities.

Although most poultry meat and eggs come from chickens, significant amounts of meat are produced from ducks and geese in certain parts of the world. The production of ducks and geese can contribute to the improvement of the nutritional standards of the world's population.