meet your meat: trends and impact of meat production

Meet your Meat: Trends and Impacts of

Meat Production

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©Worldwatch Institute

Sources: FAOSTAT

World meat production has increased more than 4-fold since 1961

Mil

lio

n T

on

s

308.5 million tons (2013)

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Top Meat Exporters 2013

Top exporting countries

1.7

7.6

6.4

1.9

2

1.8

4





Top Meat Producers, by Continent

131.5 58.5

47.2

39.9

… Million Tons

North America

Europe

Asia

South America





About 43 kg of meat per capita were consumed in 2013

Industrial countries:

76 kg per capita

Developing countries:

33 kg per capita

But the

gap is

slowly

narrowing





Close to 70% of agricultural land is used for pasture

Another 10% is used to grow feed for livestock





Sales

Meatland

Other land

Beef production is very resource-intensive

It uses 60% of farmland, but yields less than 5% of world’s protein

60%

5%

60%

protein farmland





Agriculture uses 70% of the world’s available freshwater

One third of that is used to produce feed for livestock





Beef is much more water-intensive than many staple foods

Beef

Rice Eggs

15,000 1,000 3,300

Milk

3,400 250

Potatoes

Liters per kilogram





Alternatives in meat production could reduce impacts

Using grass instead of grain for feed Reduces competition for food between cattle and people

Using natural fertilizers Lowers use of synthetic fertilizers

Ending factory-style production Reduces dependence on antibiotics





Sales

Meatland

Other land

Changes in meat consumption could reduce impacts

Eating less meat

Choosing lower-impact meats





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Vital Signs Online is produced by the Worldwatch Institute and provides business leaders, policymakers, and engaged citizens with the latest data and analysis they need

to understand critical global trends.

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About the Worldwatch Institute:

Through research and outreach that inspire action, the Worldwatch Institute works to accelerate the transition to a sustainable

world that meets human needs.

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bit.ly/meatpro

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meet your meat: trends and impact of meat production

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