The XIII World Poultry Congress got off to a flying start yesterday, with an impressive opening ceremony that included an Aborigine welcome in song and dance, but there were more important things to come.

Delegates were welcomed by Dr Bob Pym, chairman of the conference organising committee, and Dr Rüveyde Akbay, president of the World's Poultry Science Association.

Keynote speaker was Professor John Hodges, who spoke on 'Emerging boundaries for poultry production'. After outlining the great advances the poultry industry has achieved in the last four decades, he warned of an impending man-made crisis - not climate change but food insecurity.

"Our civilisation is in crisis." He declared as he put forward the theory that Western society's obsession with material wealth and the constant search for higher profit have led to a breakdown of community and an end to centuries of food security.

In his closing remarks, Professor Hodges urged the poultry sector to take on new leadership role and to think of new ways to produce food. "Global community needs a global effort," he said.