DOHA: Qatar Fertiliser Company (Qafco) and the Belgian University of Liege signed an agreement for a joint cooperation on a research programme to use urea as poultry feed additive to prevent use of antibiotics in them.
The agreement was signed by Khalifa Abdulla Al Sowaidi, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive officer of Qafco and Professor Pascal Leory the Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Liege University. The signing was attended by Paul Magnette, President Belgian Walloon Government.
The signing ceremony, which took place last Wednesday at the Head Office of Walloonia Government in Belgium, was attended by officials from both sides. The agreement aims at cooperation between Qafco, and University of Liege in research related to the use of urea as an essential component of healthy poultry feed to prevent the use of antibiotics in agriculture and livestock. The research will also look at the use of urea to improve nutrient capacities of cassava root — one of the largest food carbohydrates source in Africa and Asia.
Following the signing of the agreement, Paul Magnette, President Belgian Walloon Government highlighted the great importance of this cooperation between Qafco and the University of Liege for the development of natural solutions to daily diet-especially for baby food-free from residue of food additives or antibiotics that weaken their resistance to diseases.
The President also pointed out to the depth and unique relationship between Belgium and Qatar and noted the role of Qatar in various international areas and said that Belgium is the second State in the field of chemical industry in Europe, and is seeking even stronger partnership with Qatar where Belgium plays a major role and to be the gateway for developing stronger economical relations with the Europe.
Khalifa Al Sowaidi said: “This agreement is part of our global role as a supporter of efforts at alleviation of global hunger and to provide an alternative to the harmful yet prevalent global food production processes.”
The Peninsula
