Pig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Buildings supplement
    • February 2025
    • 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Pig Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • Innovation supplement 2024
    • Pig & Poultry Fair Guide 2024
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • Buildings Supplement
    • March 2024
    • Pig Nutrition (Beyond Zinc)
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • National Pig Awards Supplement 2023
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • Health Supplement
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
Podcast
Pig WorldPig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    1. May 2025
    2. April 2025
    3. March 2025
    4. 2025 Buildings supplement
    5. February 2025
    6. 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    7. January 2025
    8. December 2024
    9. November 2024
    10. National Pig Awards supplement
    11. October 2024
    12. September 2024
    13. August 2024
    14. 2024 Pig Health supplement
    15. July 2024
    16. June 2024
    17. Innovation supplement 2024
    18. Pig & Poultry Fair Guide 2024
    19. May 2024
    20. April 2024
    21. Buildings Supplement
    22. March 2024
    23. Pig Nutrition (Beyond Zinc)
    24. February 2024
    25. January 2024
    26. December 2023
    27. November 2023
    28. National Pig Awards Supplement 2023
    29. October 2023
    30. September 2023
    31. Health Supplement
    Featured

    May 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    May 1, 2025
    Recent

    May 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    May 1, 2025

    April 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    April 4, 2025

    March 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    March 6, 2025
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
LinkedIn X (Twitter)
Pig World
Politics

A look into the future of meat production

PW ReportersBy PW ReportersMarch 11, 20145 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

In this extended version of the article that appeared in the March 2014 issue of Pig World, Jane Jordan says the recently published Meat Atlas 2014, compiled by the Heinrich Böll Foundation and Friends of the Earth Europe, makes interesting reading for anyone involved in meat production

Global meat demand is rising and the livestock sector has an optimistic outlook. However, beneath the umbrella of worldwide economics exists significant variability within individual markets. Although overall growth is expected – and to be welcomed – there will be repercussions for established businesses that are worth knowing about.

The recently published Meat Atlas 2014, compiled by the Heinrich Böll Foundation and Friends of the Earth Europe, makes interesting reading. Although its authors push the ‘organic ideal’, on balance, it provides a synopsis of how the world’s meat sector might shape up during the next 20 years – a valuable perspective for the UK pig industry.

In the developed world meat eating has reached a plateau. Consumption in the US is falling, down by 9% since 2007, while in Germany – home to Europe’s principal carnivores – people are eating 2kg less meat per person a year. The Meat Atlas, factors concerns about food safety, traceability, environmental impacts and a preference for quality for the downward trend. Western consumers are trading up and buying less.

In recent years, UK pigmeat consumption has slumped, which is in line with global trends. However, if the Atlas observations are right, and consumer demand is primed for high quality and high welfare meat products, then our industry is well placed to supply them. There should be scope to grow our business and secure a greater market share both domestically and elsewhere.

Meat consumption is rising rapidly in developing nations. In Asia the meat production sector is predicted to grow by 80% by 2022 with pig and poultry production taking the lead. Expansion in these industries is following the same growth patterns as that seen in developed nations several decades ago.

It’s also worth noting that the Chinese Animal Protection Network and The Animal Welfare Board of India (and alike) are gaining prominence with middle class consumers in developing nations. Quality assurance and animal welfare are fashionable ideals and niche markets are beginning to emerge.

But there are also concerns about over supply.

Global food demand may escalate, in line with a booming population, but only a small proportion of these ‘extra people’ will actually influence meat consumption. The Meat Atlas says urban populations are eating more meat, but they only play a minor role in driving overall consumption. Being able to produce enough primary foods, such as grain and pulses, will be the greatest food challenge.

Pointed issues
Another pointed argument is that diet is no longer a private matter. Every meal impacts on the lives of people across the world and I have to agree. In the developed world the diversity of food on offer throughout the year is enormous – think Kenyan green beans available in January. This ‘choice’ is generally supplied by producers in developing nations and this trade benefits these economies and fuels development.

The Meat Atlas also offers some clarity the effects meat eating has on climate change and conservation. Sustainable production, with a lower carbon foot print is achievable – as is being demonstrated by the UK pig industry and its reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) emissions – is to be encouraged, although the authors don’t necessarily have the same perspective here!

Large-scale agribusiness is scrutinised, with details on how tight margins have encouraged large-scale production – the $7.1 billion Shuanghui International/ Smithfield Foods Inc deal is cited as example. But these ‘mega businesses’ are often vulnerable to volatile market prices and trade tensions, which in turn can create instability in global markets.

The Meat Atlas also says diversity suffers as a result of industrialised livestock production, and this could limit future opportunities to respond to future environmental challenges, market conditions or social needs. Consider poultry production, where one breeding cock can sire 28 million genetically similar offspring; and that one third of the world’s pigs originate from a small number of companies that specialise in very similar, high-performance genotypes. Does this narrow genetic diversity increase the vulnerability modern farm animals have to pests and diseases?

Freedom, domination and protection
Free trade versus safe food is debated. Lower trade barriers would benefit global trade and competition, but food safety standards differ considerably from country to country, and removing certain barriers could jeopardise hard won regulations governing animal welfare, drug use, feed additives and the use of GM crops in livestock diets. Freer trade may offer benefits and opportunities, but consumers must be protected.

Another key concern for the livestock sector is the emerging Latin American soy empire. Large-scale soyabean production is increasingly controlled by ‘sowing pools’ (some say cartels) where the crop is intensively produced, says the Meat Atlas. Between 2008 and 2012 Argentine sowing pools earned estimated profits of between 16-21% per year and although new rules governing land purchases have been enforced to restrict expansion, many growers continue to expand their interests in Paraguay, Brazil and Uruguay – their control of the soyabean market is significant and getting stronger.

The socio-economics associated of meat production must also be considered as it impacts on heavily on many developing economies. Small-scale livestock farming is a vitally important as back yard farms supplement family incomes and often provide women with financial independence to fund education, medical treatment and health care. This is valuable agriculture that must not be pushed out by large-scale production.

Another key observation by the Meat Atlas is the universal acceptance that those employed in the slaughter and processing sector is unskilled and low-grade labour. This attitude certainly warrants change in western societies, given the enormous investment and value now placed in food safety and traceability and quality assurance throughout the meat chain.

You can download the Meat Atlas 2014 for free via: www.boell.de/en/2014/01/07/meat-atlas

NB: This is a longer version of the article that appeared in the March 2014 issue of Pig World

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleEnvironmental health check for piggeries
Next Article EU and Russia to discuss ASF export ban
PW Reporters

Read Similar Stories

NPA urges government not to compromise animal welfare standards in future US-UK trade deal

May 7, 2025

Fair Dealing Obligations (Pigs) Regulations earn cross-party support in path through Commons

April 28, 2025

NFU calls for Chancellor to prioritise food security and border controls in spending review

April 23, 2025
Latest News

National PRRS control and biosecurity programme making strides in Scotland

May 9, 2025

Historic UK-US trade deal – industry reaction

May 8, 2025

New grants to be available for pig farmers as Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) re-opens

May 8, 2025
Sponsored Content

THE GATEKEEPER OF RESPIRATORY HEALTH – MYCOPLASMA HYOPNEUMONIAE (M.HYO)

April 30, 2024

Tackle the root cause of PWD with free diagnostic tests

March 1, 2024
Current Pig Industry jobs
  • Managing Director

    • Oxfordshire and North Yorkshire
    • United Pig Co-operative (UPC)
  • Experienced Pig Stockperson – Ref 1736 South East England

    • South East England
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Senior Pig Stockperson – Ref 1735 Somerset

    • Somerset
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
GETTING IN TOUCH
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Meet The Editors
  • About Us
  • Email Newsletters
  • Subscribe
  • Reuse permissions
OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
PARTNER EVENTS
RELATED SITES
  • Farmers Weekly
  • Agronomist & Arable Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • National Pig Awards
  • Pigs Tomorrow
  • Poultry News
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.