USING NATIVE PLANTS IN POULTRY FEED: FOOD SECURITY AND SUSTAINABILITY APPROACH

Abstract

Poultry meat and eggs are considered as one of the most popular food items all over the world due to their content of high quality nutrients including protein, lipids, vitamins, and minerals. During the past decade, many countries have increased their commercial production of these essential products to meet the increased demand by consumers, especially with the increasing populations all over the world. However, there is an urgent need to ensure sustainable poultry production for the local consumer. Using native plants in poultry feed is an innovative approach that can improve food security and promote sustainability in the poultry industry. Native plants have adapted to local conditions, are often more resistant to pests and diseases, and require less water and fertilizers compared to non-native plants. Additionally, incorporating native plants into poultry feed can diversify the diet of the birds, leading to better health and nutrition. The current paper focuses on the potential use of nine species of native plants in the state of Kuwait that can be used in poultry feed to enhance the local food security and sustainability. This work is under the umbrella of the Government Initiative (GI) Project (P-KISR-17) �Establishment of Model Farm Utilizing Modern Technologies for Local Production� (subtask 3.1: Poultry production). The goal of this GI is to reduce water and food vulnerability in Kuwait.