The Asociación Latinoamérica de Avicultura – ALA: was founded by a group of illuminated individuals that were later recognized by the Latin American Poultry industry as the promoters of a new era for the poultry business. ALA was created on April 23rd, 1970 at 10.30 in the building of the Bolsa de Cereales of the City of Buenos Aires, Argentina, as is reflected in its articles of incorporation and in the press release called "An organization to promote the poultry industry was created" published by the La Prensa newspaper on April 29th, 1970.
The following persons participated in the foundation of ALA: Luis de Ambrosio representing the Asociación Productores Avícolas Sur from Uruguay; Ciriaco Alonso representing CAPIA from Argentina; Laurinston Von Schmidt from Brazil; Manuel Méndez Bravo from Mexico; and Aníbal Ramírez Aranda from Paraguay. These inspired individuals gave birth to the Asociación Latinoamérica de Avicultura, an organization that has maintained its influence and is stronger than ever. On that date of April, the founding fathers wrote ALA's bylaws and appointed the following members to serve on its governing body: Ginés Miguel Perea from Argentina was appointed President; Laurinston Von Schmidt from Brazil became the Vice President; Aníbal Ramírez Aranda from Chile filled the position of Deputy Vice President; Manuel Méndez Bravo from México became ALA's Secretary and Eduardo Fleitas Céspedes from Paraguay was appointed Treasurer.
ALA's articles of incorporation established that its members would alternate the role of President and that the headquarters would be in the country of residence of the selected president. As a consequence of the latter, Buenos Aires became the seat of ALA's governing body on the year of its foundation. Many years later, at a meeting held in Chile in 1992, it was established that Buenos Aires would be ALA's historical headquarters. Thirty-seven years after that memorable event, it is worth remembering those pioneers that set the principles for working together to consolidate the strength of the Latin American poultry industry in the world.
In the following years, ALA started to organize regional conferences. The first events were meant to gather Latin American experts and, eventually, to bring someone from another region. To this end, some major companies (genetics businesses, laboratories and other large corporations) made big financial contributions for organizing the first conferences. It is necessary to recall that ALA's growth was possible due to the action of some leaders in each country member (who later became Latin American leaders) that took an active role in building and managing the organization. Those leaders continued to participate and move forward even in times of high recession, when money and commitment with the cause were scarce.
As the U.S. poultry market emerged along with the country's growth and preeminence in the world scenario, the European poultry market was in full development as well. Poultry products in those two regions were on demand. A sense of fear rapidly spread among national industries as multinational poultry companies started to grow; small companies feared that the big international corporations would beat them to death. But time passed and the small, national industries lived on thanks to their capacity for remaining alert and take advantage of the opportunities left by world and hemispheric crisis. Although the world has undergone deep transformations, the small companies can still offer competitive advantages and play an active role in the poultry market.
For a time, the poultry conferences continued as they had been conceived, but then the fairs/exhibition business came into existence and the two events merged into one. The leading world poultry corporations started to attend these fairs followed by ALA members who soon became aware that this was another opportunity for business. We can then say that 1970 marks the beginning of a new WORLD POULTRY INDUSTRY
For a number of reasons: to follow other industries' standards, or for the commitment demonstrated by the organizing countries, or the initiative of the founding fathers (that were and still are in the governing bodies of the organizing countries), or due to the world's huge transformations, or to globalization or for any other reason, ALA congresses have become the biannual essential appointment for Latin American poultry people and for business people from anywhere else.
ALA has developed significant strength and has experienced leaders that can contribute to its sustainability and to keep the leadership position that it has achieved.
Currently, ALA takes part in the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Health Organization, and is an observing body in the CODEX Alimentarius. Within ALA's structure, there is a Commercial Issues Committee. ALA receives the support of other organizations like the Latin American Egg Institute (ILH), a strong institution that is deeply committed to advancing many of the principles and values embraced by ALA. Its Scientific Committee (that participates in the Inter American Poultry Health Committee (CISA)) is led by experts that can handle sophisticated technical issues and discuss them in international forums. ALA is a prestigious organization that has true, committed leaders, with members that are also deeply involved in the management of the institution. ALA is supported by its history, its honorary presidents, its former authorities and the Latin American companies. In sum: ALA is Latin America's Poultry Institutional Arm.

The Centro de Empresas Procesadoras Avícolas - CEPA - is an association that represents Argentine poultry producers. CEPA members manufacture natural food products following the highest quality standards in a land characterized by mild weather, absence of pollution and demand from sophisticated local consumers.
Argentina is known for the quality of its cereals and red meat but it also produces top quality poultry meat. The region known as the Pampa Húmeda concentrates the largest poultry breeding activity; the Pampa Húmeda land is also the preferred region for growing cereals and oil seeds. These cereals then become the basic component of the balanced feed diet of Argentine chickens. Top-notch technology is available at slaughtering facilities, meat processing plants, means of transportation and even at training for workers. Under these controlled conditions, Argentine farms produce first rate poultry products that comply with all the food security quality standards and are certified by the SENASA (National Service for Agrifood Health and Quality).
Reaching an annual volume of 1,600,000 tons, Argentine poultry producers follow a vertical processing pattern that allows thorough product traceability. The Centro de Empresas Procesadoras Avícolas – CEPA that reunites Argentine poultry producers is responsible for educating, promoting, spreading industry information about its members and their work in the country and abroad.

The Cámara Argentina de Productores Avícolas - CAPIA - , was founded on July 4, 1962 and is a member of ALA. CAPIA is a not for profit union association that serves the interests of the Argentina poultry industry. Any poultry business that feels identified with CAPIA's mission can become a member. CAPIA serves the interests of egg producers, independent and associated breeders, egg crushers and hatchers, among others. However, CAPIA does not serve the interests of slaughterers who are represented by another association. CAPIA does not exclude anyone from membership; individuals or companies that are interested in being members are simply required to pay a social fee to finance CAPIA's operation. On CAPIA's governing body all persons and companies involved in the poultry business from all regions, small or large business (managing from 2000 to 1600 birds) are represented.

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