What a year we had in 2018 - a year of trade wars, a renegotiated NAFTA (now the USMCA), WTO disputes, import blocks, tariffs and a Brexit plan which caused an historic vote of no confidence and which is still heading in uncertain directions.

Isolationist views inhibiting cooperation between nations are an obstacle not only to global trade, but to global prosperity. A boon, then, that the EU and Japan have agreed to reduce tariffs on poultry and egg products with their new trade deal and that tensions between the US and China appear to be relaxing - for now.

That being said, the global poultry industry surgest forward. Innovative ideas have reduced antimicrobial use drastically and the world's leading food businesses are getting behind a cage-free egg chain or otherwise taking measurable steps toward improving welfare for the hens that feed the world across faiths, borders, classes and cultures.

This issue of Poultry Digital takes IPPE 2019 as an opportunity to visit a few of the world's markets with a global poultry perspective. Join us for our annual review of the US poultry meat and egg industry with predictions fo 2019; an update on how the South Africa poultry market has recovered from a listeriosis outbreak in 2016 (page 18); and a look into how Zimbabwe is creating opportunities for egg farmers with end-of-lay hens (page 24).

We also visit Canadian broiler producers who are working to decrease their carbon footprints - just in time for consumers to choose more plant-based options instead. With an update from Rabobank about global poultry markets and an inside look at our top picks from IPPE 2019's programme, this issue ushers in the new year with a positive outlook for 2019.