The poultry industry has always been innovative and interesting, and the last twelve months have been no exception. Variations in feed raw material pricing, food scares and the global financial problems will certainly keep it so, and it looks as though we are going to continue living in ‘interesting times’. On the plus side, the poultry sector, and its associated research, continues to lead the way in many aspects of animal science, and the exciting seminar and conference opportunities in 2009 are testament to that. A prime example is that this year sees the 17th European Symposium on Poultry Nutrition being held in Scotland, with participants and delegates expected to attend from all over the world. I shall certainly be there, as will the rest of the WPSA board, and look forward to meeting WPSA members new and old. The organising committee have done a wonderful job and, as the dates coincide with the Edinburgh festival, there will some great opportunities for seeing the best Scotland has to offer at this time of year.

The Journal has also been given the opportunity to launch a ‘special’ edition in June regarding small scale family poultry farming. This is an important aspect of the WPSA’s work with developing countries, and has been the focus of several meetings recently. As a result our new President, Bob Pym, and I have put our heads together and come up with a group of papers specifically relating to this topic. Our continued strong links and involvement with the FAO gives us a great opportunity to explore this much-needed area, as it affects the lives and well-being of so many men, women and children living in poorer countries. I hope you will all enjoy this special issue and learn something new about what poultry science has to offer these families from a nutritional, social and economic perspective.

We are also fortunate to be able to publish John Hodges thought-provoking paper regarding capitalism, how it has affected the poultry industry and how big businesses may work in the future. This was the keynote paper given at Brisbane, and stimulated much comment and discussion among those who heard it. I trust it will give you all food for thought!

Lucy Tucker

Editor