Global Meat Supply Quadruples in 60 Years... Poultry Consumption Increases Sixfold

FAO: "Per Capita Meat Supply Increased from 25kg to 47kg"
Livestock-Related Greenhouse Gas Burden Also Rising

The global supply of meat has increased fourfold over the past 60 years. Per capita meat supply also rose from 25 kilograms in 1961 to 47 kilograms in 2022.

An image showing the trimming of beef steak cuts at Deepcuts Butcher Shop in Dallas, USA. Photo by AP Yonhap News

According to a report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations on June 5, the per capita supply of poultry, which was less than 3 kilograms in 1961, increased to 17 kilograms in 2022. Pork consumption per capita roughly doubled to 15 kilograms over the same period. In contrast, beef consumption per capita remained steady at around 9 kilograms.

The increase in meat consumption has led to greater environmental burdens. The report notes that agriculture is one of the major greenhouse gas emitting sectors in the global economy, and projects that emissions from the agricultural sector will rise by 7.6 percent over the next decade. Livestock is expected to account for a significant portion of this increase.

The issue of meat and dairy loss and waste was also highlighted. The report estimates that about 14 percent of meat and milk is either lost during production or discarded during distribution and consumption.

However, the report does not recommend a uniform reduction in meat consumption for all countries. In high-income nations, excessive meat consumption is cited as a source of environmental and health burdens, while in low-income countries, access to animal-based foods remains limited.

The FAO emphasized the need for policy measures to reduce negative impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions and antimicrobial resistance in the livestock sector.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.