Meat consumption on the rise in China
Published:27-July-2005
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A study by the International Food Policy Research Institute has forecast that by the year 2020, people in developing countries will eat more than 36 kilograms of meat on average - twice as much as in the 1980s. In China, the figure is expected to be 73 kilograms, prompting questions as to where the country will source its meat from.
China's rapid economic growth and continuing urbanization has led to consumers moving away from staple foods to include greater quantities of meat in their diets, according to Vital Signs 2005, the latest publication from the Washington DC-based Worldwatch Institute
Between 1996 and 2003, Chinese meat production rose by 51%. Pigs and poultry comprised the greatest portion of the meat produced. However, it was beef and lamb that saw the greatest percentage increase in production.
To date, China's domestic market has met this increased demand for meat production. Imports have played only a peripheral role in China's meat market, which reached a peak of around 70 million tons in 2003. But as this growth continues, it is becoming apparent that China will need to establish a stronger import market to cope with this demand.
Growing environmental problems such as sustained stress on the China's agricultural production base further emphasizes a possibly greater reliance on meat imports in the future. The Australian red meat industry has been named as a potential future provider.
