FAO Says Global Chicken Supply Jumped to 17 kg Per Person as Meat Nears 47 kg
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 5
FAO Says Global Chicken Supply Jumped to 17 kg Per Person as Meat Nears 47 kg
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 5
Summary
17 kg of chicken per person was available globally in 2022, up from under 3 kg in 1961, while pork doubled to 15 kg and total meat supply rose from 25 kg to 47 kg.
7.6% growth in agriculture emissions is forecast over the next decade, the FAO said, with livestock driving about 80% of that increase even as beef supply held steady at 9 kg per person.
14% of meat and milk is lost in production or wasted after reaching shops and restaurants, while animal foods remain far less affordable in low- and middle-income countries than in rich ones.
FAO stopped short of urging wealthy countries to eat less meat, drawing criticism from outside researchers who said the report documents excessive consumption but sidesteps its climate and health implications.
12-20% of global warming emissions come from animal agriculture, and the FAO said a later report this year will examine environmental sustainability in more detail.
With China's meat market in flux, how will the new global food map impact prices and planetary health?
Is the UN's bet on tech to clean up the meat industry a real climate solution or a dangerous delay?
Are plant-based alternatives the key to a greener diet, or do they hide their own environmental and nutritional risks?
Global Meat Production Surges 55% Since 2000: Drivers, Disparities, and the Path to Sustainable Protein
Overview
Global meat production has surged by 55 percent over the past two decades, reaching 361 million tonnes in 2022. This growth is mainly driven by evolving dietary patterns and a growing world population. Chicken meat has become the most produced type, making up over a third of global output and showing the largest increase since 2000. While the growth rate has slowed recently, the trend remains strong. These changes highlight how shifts in what people eat and the number of people worldwide are shaping the meat industry, with chicken leading the way in production growth.