Abstract
Meat poultry breeding plays a critical role at the start of the food chain. Breeding solutions are long-term - as available in the DNA of the populations. They are also cumulative - the gradual improvements add up -, and disseminated widely throughout the production chain. Poultry meat is an important animal source food, and instrumental for global food security. The contribution that poultry breeding makes to meet current and future needs can be described in terms of a Code of Good Practice for Sustainable Breeding (Code-EFABAR®), and as Five Commitments to 1) Health, Food Safety and Food Security; 2) Diversity; 3) Balanced Breeding; 4) Management and Stockmanship; and 5) Transparency, Communication and Engagement. The review describes these commitments. Understanding what future directions are foreseen in the medium and long term is the basis for change. The dialogue and close cooperation with stakeholders in society is crucial to anticipate developments, by investigating and implementing them in steady and careful balanced selection leading to better welfare, productivity and sustainability outcomes.