VETCONVERGENCE 2026 brought together more than 30 Vice-Chancellors to impact actionable roadmap for the sustainable growth of the livestock and poultry sectors.
The 2nd Edition of the Vice-Chancellors’ Conclave – VETCONVERGENCE 2026, organized by Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University (MAFSU), Nagpur and supported by Indian Poultry Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA)–Poultry India, was successfully held on 10th and 11th July 2026 at Hotel AVASA, Hyderabad.
The two-day event brought together more than 30 Vice-Chancellors from veterinary universities across India, policymakers, scientists, academicians, and industry leaders under the theme “Aligning Livestock Research with Industry Demand and Entrepreneurship Development.” The conclave focused on strengthening academia-industry collaboration to drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable growth in the livestock and poultry sectors.
Hon’ble Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, Former Union Minister, Government of India and former Governor of Himachal Pradesh, graced the conclave as Chief Guest. In his inspiring address, he emphasized making veterinary education and research more practical, industry-focused, and impact-oriented. He highlighted the need for universities to produce employable graduates equipped with hands-on skills and an entrepreneurial mindset, while stressing demand-driven research, technology transfer, and university-industry partnerships. Shri Dattatreya also specifically highlighted the involvement of the female workforce in the poultry sector promoting inclusive growth.
The conclave featured impactful panel discussions covering critical topics including reorienting veterinary research to demand-driven frameworks, entrepreneurship development and agri-business incubation, technology commercialization and start-up promotion, priority research areas for the poultry sector in the next decade, developing a collective roadmap with institutional commitments, and applications of Artificial Intelligence in the livestock sector.
The following six impactful panel discussions were conducted addressing critical priorities in veterinary research, entrepreneurship, technology commercialisation, poultry sector needs, institutional collaboration, and AI applications in the livestock sector.
Session I: Reorienting Veterinary Research from Publication-Driven to Demand-Driven Frameworks
Moderated by Shri Tarun Shridhar, IAS (Retd.), DG, ICFA, with Dr. Atul Dhok as Rapporteur.
Distinguished panellists shared insights on making veterinary research more industry-focused, impactful, and innovation-driven.
Session II: Entrepreneurship Development and Agri-Business Incubation in Veterinary Universities
Moderated by Dr. Niteen V. Patil, Vice-Chancellor, MAFSU, Nagpur.
Experts discussed strengthening entrepreneurship, innovation, and incubation ecosystems within veterinary education and the livestock sector.
Session III: Technology Commercialisation, Start-up Promotion, and Stakeholders Empowerment
Moderated by Dr. Nazeer Ahmad Ganai, Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST, Kashmir.
The session explored pathways to bridge research and enterprise, promoting startups and translating innovations into impactful ventures for the livestock sector and rural economy.
Session IV: Poultry Sector – Priority Research Areas for the Next Decade
Moderated by Mr. O. P. Singh, Managing Director, ABTL & Huvepharma India.
Industry leaders and experts identified key research priorities, technology adoption needs, and collaborative strategies to enhance the sector’s competitiveness and resilience.
Session V: Developing a Collective Road Map – Institutional Commitments and Actionable Outcomes
Moderated by Dr. Yashpal Singh Malik, Dy. Director General (Edn.), ICAR, New Delhi.
Leaders from academia, research, and regulatory bodies emphasised stronger collaboration, institutional commitments, and measurable strategies to drive innovation and growth in the livestock sector.
Session VI: Artificial Intelligence Applications in Livestock Sector
Moderated by Mr. O. P. Singh, Managing Director, ABTL & Huvepharma India.
The panel highlighted AI’s transformative potential in productivity, disease surveillance, precision farming, and building a more efficient, sustainable livestock ecosystem.
The Commemorative Souvenir of the 2nd Edition of the Vice-Chancellors’ Conclave, VETCONVERGENCE 2026, was unveiled during the inaugural session, symbolizing the shared commitment to collaborative progress.
Shri Uday Singh Bayas, President, IPEMA–Poultry India, led the IPEMA delegation along with Treasurer Shri M. Srikanth and other senior members, actively contributing to the deliberations. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from key industry representatives including Prof. M. Gnana Prakash (VC, PVNRTVU), Suresh Chitturi (MD, Srinivasa Farms), O.P. Singh (MD, ABTL & Huvepharma India. ), and several others.
Dr. Niteen Vasantrao Patil, Vice-Chancellor of MAFSU, led the knowledge-sharing efforts on behalf of the organizers. Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University (MAFSU) excelled in fostering insightful discussions and enriching the overall quality of the conclave.
Shri Uday Singh Bayas, President, IPEMA–Poultry India remarked, “VETCONVERGENCE 2026 has successfully created a powerful platform for dialogue between academia and industry. The rich insights and commitments made here will translate into tangible outcomes that benefit farmers, entrepreneurs, and the entire livestock ecosystem, and most importantly Poultry sector.”
During the conclave, IPEMA–Poultry India unveiled the official poster for the 18th Poultry India Expo 2026. The World’s Largest Poultry Expo to be held at HITEX, Hyderabad, from 25–27 November 2026, preceded by the Poultry Knowledge Day on 24 November 2026, bringing together innovation, knowledge, and collaboration for the global poultry industry.
