World meat consumption will increase in the next 10 years

Posted on 31/08/2015

Updated: August 29th de 2015 | AFP

The annual consumption of meat will continue to rise over the next ten years, thanks to emerging countries, according to researchers reported at the International Congress of Meat Science and Technology, which closed Friday at Clermont-Ferrand (central France).

"The expected trend is an increase in global meat consumption at a rate of 1.6% annually in the next ten years," said at a conference the Belgian agricultural the economist Erik Mathijs, citing recent figures from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

In 50 years, consumption of meat products (fresh meat, deli, frozen meals, canned) has doubled over the world, from 23.1 kilos per person per year in 1961 to 42.2 kilos in 2011.

"During the last 20 years, emerging countries have experienced a revolution in livestock, particularly pigs and poultry," said Pierre Sans, researcher at the French Institute of Agronomic Research.

In the coming years, emerging countries continue to bring global consumption to rise, which has stagnated in most developed countries (Western Europe, North America, Japan) by the economic crisis and awareness of consumers in respect animal welfare and nutrition.

Another element to consider is climate change, which livestock is one of the first makers, recalled Erik Mathijs, professor at the Catholic University of Leuven Dutch. "The negotiations (with a view to an agreement to fight climate change) necessarily address the reduction of production and consumption of meat," he predicted.

Some 500 scientists and professionals from the meat were involved in this 61 international congress that is held every year in a different country. Its next edition will be held in 2016 in Bangkok (Thailand).