Report calls for reduction in meat consumption

Reducing global meat consumption will be critical to keeping global warming below the “danger level” of 2C, the main goal of the climate negotiations in Paris, according to a new report published by Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, an independent policy institute based in London.
Among the key findings of the report – “Changing Climate, Changing Diets: Pathways to Lower Meat Consumption” – are that our appetite for meat is a major driver of climate change, and that therefore reducing global meat consumption will be critical to keeping global warming below the “danger level” of 2C.
Authors of the report, Laura Wellesley and Antony Froggatt of Chatham House and Catherine Happer of the University of Glasgow, contend there is little public awareness of the issue and that meat is not included on the policy agenda. Governments must lead in shifting attitudes and behavior, they add.
At the root of the problem, according to the authors, is that the livestock sector accounts for 15 percent of global emissions and that global meat consumption has already reached unhealthy levels, contributing to the rise of obesity and non-communicable diseases like cancer and Type 2 diabetes.
Among the recommendations of the report are the need to build the case for government intervention and to initiate national debates about meat consumption, starting by increasing public awareness about the problems of overconsumption of animal products.
Commenting on the report, animal welfare campaigning organization, Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) said in a statement that the report’s findings reflect its belief that consumers should eat less meat in order to tackle climate change.
“We want to see livestock production and overconsumption of meat and dairy foods on the agenda in Paris,” commented CIWF chief policy adviser, Peter Stevenson. “Research shows that we cannot avoid a dangerous rise in temperatures unless there is a substantial decrease in global meat and dairy consumption.”

Sharp price hike for poultry meat in Algeria

Consumers in Algeria are paying 21 percent more for chicken in August than a year ago while the poultry industry remains dependent on imported corn.
According to the Algerian press service, APS, annual inflation was 5.1 percent in August, continuing a rising trend over recent months.
For the first 8 months of 2015, average food inflation has been 5 percent. Poultry meat has risen by 8.5 percent, while lamb and beef prices have increased more slowly than the average. Compared to July, poultry meat was almost 18 percent more expensive in August.
Meanwhile, egg prices have been falling in Algeria – down 14.6 percent for the month and 8.5 percent for the year so far.
Algeria has recently reported an increase in its grain harvest this year, while imports were also higher.
According to a new report from the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), Algeria is dependent on imports for its corn requirements, with purchases rising from around 2.8 million metric tons (mt) in 2010 to 4.1 million mt in 2014.
“This is an important North African market for U.S. corn,” commented Cary Sifferath, USGC senior director of global programs. “Algerian poultry farmers, the majority end-user of imported corn, have a preference for Argentinian corn with a red tinge to the kernel color. So Algerian importers will buy Argentine corn even when it doesn’t have a price advantage, and there are complaints about quality, especially excessive dust in U.S. corn. At current prices, however, U.S. corn is getting back into the mix, and the Council is working hard to address the quality issues.”
The U.S. exported just 64,426 mt of corn to Algeria in 2010, and none in the following 3 years. However, in 2014, they rebounded to more than 76,000 mt and tripled to more than 238,000 mt in the first half of calendar year 2015.

North American Meat Institute celebrates 25 years of support for 'Meating the Need'

The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) has recommitted to its "Meating the Need" Partnership with Feeding America as it celebrated the project’s 25th anniversary. All totaled, food banks in the Feeding America network have received an estimated 200 million pounds of surplus meat and poultry from Institute members during the last 25 years.
As part of the celebration, Feeding America’s Managing Director of Manufacturing Partnerships Karen Hanner addressed the Institute’s Management Conference and offered the organization’s gratitude, noting that meat and poultry are among the foods most desired by food banks nationwide.
“Feeding America is deeply appreciative of our 25 year partnership with the North American Meat Institute,” said Hanner. “With over 49 million Americans facing hunger, the valuable protein provided through the ‘Meating the Need’ program has made a measurable difference for clients served by our food bank network. Thanks to NAMI members, millions of families across the country have enjoyed nutritious meals with beef, chicken, pork or turkey that they otherwise may not have been able to afford.”
During the Management Conference, Institute members also participated in a backpack decorating and stuffing event that will provide food and supplies to hungry school-age children.
“We are committed to supporting Feeding America’s fight against hunger,” said NAMI President and CEO Barry Carpenter. “Our products are among the most nutrient dense foods available and so important for healthy growth in children and for good health throughout the lifespan. We pledge to expand awareness of our ‘Meating the Need’ project among our members and encourage continued and hopefully expanded donations in the years to come.”
‘Meating the Need’ was recognized with an Associations Advance America award in 2006 by the American Society of Association Executives.
For more information about donating meat and poultry through ‘Meating the Need,’ click here.

Research: Most who try vegetarianism go back to eating meat

The American Meat Institute (AMI) had two words for vegetarians in the wake of a new study that showed that five out of six Americans who try vegetarian diets return to a balanced, meat-containing diet: “Welcome back.”
The Harris Interactive survey of more than 11,000 adults found that only two percent of Americans don’t consume meat at all, and 88 percent have never been vegetarians or vegans. But perhaps most important is the finding that of the 12 percent of Americans who have tried a vegetarian lifestyle, five out of six revert.
“This new data shows what we’ve known intuitively. Meat and poultry are irresistible for their taste and nutrition,” said Janet Riley, senior vice president of public affairs at the American Meat Institute. “A growing body of evidence reveals that balanced diets that include meat and poultry are the best option for good nutrition and for weight control because meat controls hunger.”
While Harris Interactive conducted the survey for the Humane Research Council, which undoubtedly hoped for a different survey outcome, consumers can also feel confident that animal handling and humane treatment are better than ever. As evidence, AMI pointed to its “Glass Walls” videos hosted by leading animal welfare expert Temple Grandin, Ph.D., which offer unscripted tours of beef, pork and turkey plants.
The Institute also pointed to some little known facts about meat nutrition:


• Food from animals, includingmeat and poultry, are the natural source of Vitamin B₁₂,which is critical for normal metabolism and mental clarity. Vegan dietsrequire B₁₂ supplementation.
• Iron and zinc in beef, pork,lamb, poultry, and fish are more “bioavailable,” meaning they are moreeasily absorbed and utilized by the body, than these minerals from grainsor vegetables.
• Per serving, meat, poultry, andfish provide more protein (25 g per 3 ounces) than dairy (8 grams percup), eggs (6 grams each), legumes (12 g per ¾ cup), or cereals,vegetables, or nuts (2 to 5 grams per serving).
• People following the Mediterranean dietary pattern associated with good health outcomes actually consume twice as many processed meats than the amounts in the USDA food pattern, according to a new analysis for the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Committee presented in a public meeting in November.

Meat and poultry nutrition benefits underestimated, survey shows

Most consumers don’t fully recognize the unique nutrition benefits that meat and poultry offer, according to a recent survey conducted online by Harris Poll for the American Meat Institute.
Only 12 percent of consumers correctly identified animal products like meat and poultry as the only natural source of Vitamin B₁₂, which keeps the nervous system healthy. Twenty percent said cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower were the natural source of B₁₂ and 13 percent thought the correct answer was citrus fruit. Neither of these foods contain Vitamin B₁₂.
The Harvard Health Blog reports that “Vitamin B₁₂ deficiency is relatively common, especially among older people. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey estimated that 3.2 percent of adults over age 50 have a seriously low B₁₂ level, and up to 20 percent may have a borderline deficiency.”
AMI’s survey also showed consumers don’t know that the body absorbs more iron from meat and poultry than from other foods. Meat and poultry contain “heme” iron, the most absorbable form, but 52 percent of consumers incorrectly thought the body absorbed the most iron from spinach, kale and other leafy greens, which are high in iron, but contain the less absorbable “non-heme” form. Only 17 percent correctly named meat, poultry and fish. Adequate iron intake is important because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies iron deficiency anemia as the most common nutritional deficiency in the United States.
When asked which food groups Americans consume at the recommended levels, one in three (31 percent) consumers said the protein group. According to USDA, this group, which includes meat, poultry, seafood and beans is the only one consumed in the correct amount. Twenty two percent answered grains, 21 percent answered dairy and 20 percent answered fats, oils and sweets.  Half of consumers (48 percent) said they did not know.
These findings are similar to recent research by NPD Group, which found that most consumers agree that protein is necessary in a healthy diet, but three quarters of consumers said they didn’t know the recommended daily amount. In general, men and women need between 46 and 56 grams of protein per day.
The American Meat Institute Foundation has released a dietitian-authored brochure “Meat:  A Key Player on Your Wellness Team,” that details meat and poultry’s nutrition benefits and how it can be part of healthy, balanced diet.

Rise in world protein demand proves need for trade policy, senator says

Sen. Mike Johanns, a former U.S. agriculture secretary, says effective trade policies are more important than ever with the global increase in protein consumption.

U.S. poultry and livestock producers have plenty of opportunities to export their products to countries that were once third-world countries, which is exactly why the nation needs better trade policies, U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Neb., said. Johanns, who served as U.S. secretary of agriculture during part of the George W. Bush administration, joined five other former secretaries to discuss agriculture issues at Kansas State University on October 21.
Related video: Good trade policy important to success in agriculture, former ag secretary says
"I know how important it is to agriculture to get this done. It's not the only thing that's going to make agriculture successful. If you think about it, 95 percent of the world's population doesn't live here. They live in another part of the world. I just got back from a trip to Africa, and in various parts of Africa we are seeing great success," said Johanns.
"One thing we see is that as incomes improve, and people have more disposable income, they want to improve the diet for their family. And oftentimes, that means protein. … It means the products that we raise here so well.
Johanns is currently a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and after previous stints as Nebraska's governor and as the agriculture secretary he has decided not to seek-re-election.
Johanns was joined at Kansas State University by fellow former U.S. agriculture secretaries John Block, Mike Espy, Dan Glickman, Ann Veneman and Ed Schafer.

Honesty of Meatless Monday campaign in question

Research from the American Agriculture Alliance has shown discrepancies in the number of claimed Meatless Monday participants and the actual participants.

After weeks of investigation, the Animal Agriculture Alliance has concluded that the Meatless Monday campaign is misrepresenting the campaign's enrollment and prevalence among schools, restaurants, hospitals and colleges. Since the inception of the Meatless Monday campaign, the alliance has closely monitored the campaign's progress and tried to correct its misinformation about the healthfulness of meat consumption and environmental impact of livestock production.
In anticipation of the Meatless Monday campaign's 10^th anniversary, the alliance analyzed the overall effects of the campaign and gauged its effectiveness by individually surveying every participant listed on the Meatless Monday website. The Alliance found that the campaign has not been as popular as the Meatless Monday movement claimed. Most notably:

• Out of the 236 kindergarten through twelfth grade schools listed as participating, more than 51 percent no longer or never participated in the program;
• Out of the 155 colleges/universities listed as participating, more than 43.2 percent no longer or never participated in the program;
• Out of the school districts listed as participating, more than 57 percent no longer do. 
The Meatless Monday campaign also counts restaurants and food service providers among their allies, yet over 35 percent and 47 percent, respectively, no longer participate in the program.
"These results are truly astounding. When we started the project, we didn't expect nearly as many organizations to not actually be participating in the program," said Kay Johnson Smith, president and CEO of the alliance. "The Meatless Monday campaign tries to promote a reduction in meat, milk and egg consumption as trendy, but clearly it hasn't taking off as strongly as they'd hoped."
Schools, restaurants and food service providers also echoed these sentiments noting that adoption of the campaign was widely unpopular, led to food waste and elicited complaints from parents worried about proper nutrition.
Near the alliance in Henrico County, Va., Jamie Jerabeck, a nutritionist for the school district, commented that they participated in the program for about a year but were "overwhelmed with parents complaining."
Similarly, at the Monroe Elementary School in Utah, Lisa Larson told the alliance that the students "didn't like the choices they were given," which apparently included peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and salads. April Young, a registered dietitian with the Granite County School District in Utah, echoed these concerns, noting there was already a vegetarian option available in the local schools.
"We made a conscious decision to end the program after participating for a little under two years," said Young. "As a dietitian I plan meals to accommodate students. Many students have their own dietary needs and those should be handled individually-not as part of a large-scale program."
Many of those interviewed by the alliance maintained that they didn't understand how they appeared on the Meatless Monday website in the first place. Staff at Texas Health Resources commented, "we don't understand why we're on the list - we're a corporate office and have nothing to do with meal services."
Daniel Sauer, owner of 7a Vineyard Restaurant in Haven, Mass., also said he has never been involved. "We've never participated, I'm not sure how my restaurant ended up on their webpage," he said. "I have an obligation to my customers to serve what they want. That means having both meat and vegetarian options."
Many of those interviewed emphasized the need for consumer choice in the marketplace and said that providing a variety of options to consumers seemed to work best.
"Our residents are 'old school' and enjoy meat with their meals," joked Joan Allison of Princeton General Hospital. "There wasn't a lot of interest throughout the hospital and people were put off by joining the campaign."
Meatless Mondays, according to the alliance, is a carefully orchestrated campaign that seeks to eliminate meat from Americans' meals seven days a week - beginning with Mondays. Organized through the Center for a Livable Future at John Hopkins University's Bloomberg School of Public Health, the campaign, which is funded in large part by long-time animal rights activist Helaine Lerner, pushes an extreme animal rights and environmental agenda by promoting false claims about animal agriculture, says the alliance.
"Offering options is always better than alienating consumers by forcing a viewpoint - and diet - upon them," said Johnson Smith. "At the alliance we support consumer choice. People don't like to be forced to do anything. If the Meatless Monday campaign was honest, they would see that their numbers are dwindling and that their extreme viewpoint will ultimately lead to the campaign's demise."

Documentary on Finnish food company wins awards

"One Hundred Meaty Years," a documentary about the 100 years of food company HKScan, received two gold awards at the 18th Aurora Awards international film competition in the United States. The documentary received gold in the Corporate Image and Documentary Historical series. The members of the judging team consisted of scriptwriters, directors, producers and other film industry professionals from all over North America.
The documentary is based on old archive material. In addition to newsflashes, old film footage and TV advertisements, the documentary contains clips from advisory films that were made decades ago and from co-op store-related propaganda films. Old footage found in the company archives was converted into digital format and the originals were stored in the National Audiovisual Archive of Finland.
The 11-minute history documentary was made by Pohjantähti-Elokuva. It was directed by Pami Teirikari and produced by Pepe Teirikari. The film was edited by Jukka Eggert and Salla Tuomi. The script was written by Ahti Taponen from Pohjantähti-Elokuva and Kari Suistoranta and Marja Siltala from HKScan communications.
Teirikari said, "Making this mini-documentary on HKScan's history was an interesting journey into the past. The company was founded in an era when Finland was still part of the Russian empire, the Finnish meat industry was taking its first steps and film was something very new. Before making the film, an extensive process of tracing material took place. The documentary includes restored parts of films, some of which have not been shown since they were completed, and some which were thought to have fully disappeared. The documentary moves from old films to TV ads which, in a fun way, show what the food trends and life were like in different eras. The documentary covers 100 years of development in the meat industry and society."
The documentary describes the growth of the provincial slaughterhouse cooperative, founded by cattle farmers from South West Finland, and its expansion into its current form. Because HKScan and its main owner, LSO Cooperative, have a shared history, they also celebrate the anniversary together.
In the documentary, the different phases of HKScan and LSO are linked as a close part of Finnish history. In the 1930s, LSO built a bacon slaughterhouse in Turku. The bacon rib made by the slaughterhouse was a hit, and at its peak, millions of kilograms were exported to the UK. At the end of the decade, the company also exported beef to Central Europe. Successful exports supplemented domestic sales and also provided good financial results for the co-op.
After the war, price relations changed permanently, exports no longer paid off, and the focus shifted to the domestic market and to expanding processing operations. In the 1950s, LSO's meat manufacture production increased sixfold from the pre-war era. The first branded products from LSO and HK were already introduced in the early 1960s, but the 1970s was the actual breakthrough in brand building and in developing consumer marketing.
The largest change in principle was in 1988, when the cooperative slaughterhouse Lounais-Suomen Osuusteurastamo incorporated its operations and marketing. The next step took place nine years later when the company was listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange. The business functions of the co-op and the company were separated from each other, and since then the task of LSO Cooperative has been to act as the company's main owner. The listing made it possible for the company, now known as HKScan, to go international, and the company began that process in 1998 in the Baltic countries.
The full documentary can be found at HKScan's website. An English version is available on YouTube.

Farm Journal 2013 Crop Tour results to be presented in 'Grain & Meat Outlook' webinar

WATTAgNet and Farm Journal will present the second "Grain & Meat Outlook" webinar on Tuesday, August 27.

WATTAgNet and Farm Journal Media will present the second webinar in a three-part "Grain & Meat Outlook" series on Tuesday, August 27 at 10 a.m. CDT.
This second "Grain & Meat Outlook" webinar will present the results of Farm Journal's 2013 Midwest Crop Tour and the implications this will have on grain supply and prices. The impacts of the projected harvest on the meat and poultry sectors will be forecast, including expectations for meat and poultry supply, as well as prices for the remainder of 2013 and into 2014.
The webinar will feature expert speakers Chip Flory, ProFarmer editor, and Dr. Thomas Elam, president of FarmEconLLC.
Register for the "Grain & Meat Outlook" webinar online.
What you'll learn:

• Results of the highly anticipated 2013 Farm Journal Crop Tour
• Analysis of the impact of current crop conditions on the expected final yield and harvest
• Strategies for feed users
• Wholesale meat and poultry supply and pricing for the remainder of 2013 and into 2014
More information about this webinar and other upcoming webinars is available at www.wattagnet.com/Upcoming_Webinars.aspx. 

Annual Meat Conference exhibitors donate to Nashville food bank

A total of 6,259 pounds of meat and poultry were donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee and the Isaiah 58 Outreach Ministry of Belmont Church by exhibitors at the Annual Meat Conference, an event hosted by the American Meat Institute and Food Marketing Institute at Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville on February 24–26.
The packages of steak, ground beef, pork, turkey, chicken, lamb and other cuts were highlighted during the conference’s product tasting reception which featured nearly 40 exhibitors, many of whom were able to donate their meat that was not used at the reception. Leaders at the Second Harvest Food Bank and Isaiah 58 noted that this was the largest single donation on record.
"The American Meat Institute has a twenty-five-year partnership with our nation's food banks called 'Meating the Need' through which our member companies donate meat and poultry products," said American Meat Institute President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle. "We are pleased to have continued this initiative with a large donation here in Nashville."
Leslie G. Sarasin, president and CEO of the Food Marketing Institute, said, “The food retail industry‘s proud tradition of community involvement is demonstrated in the near-universal supermarket support of local food banks and feeding programs. We are delighted to have our conference share in the neighborly spirit of food retailing, as reflected in this record-setting donation to the good work of Second Harvest Food Bank and the Isaiah 58 Outreach Ministry.”
Annual Meat Conference exhibitors have donated thousands of pounds of meat and poultry to host communities over the years, including more than 7,000 pounds in Orlando in 2012. AMI and its members have also donated millions of pounds of meat through its partnership with Feeding America since 1989.

Sweden proposes meat tax to reduce consumption

The Swedish Board of Agriculture wants Western consumers to cut down on their meat consumption to reduce greenhouse gases, according to a recent report “Sustainable meat consumption: What is it? How do we get there?”
Beef is at the top of their hit list and the report argues it would be easier to feed the world’s increasing population, if western consumers reduce all meat consumption.
According to excerpts from the report’s English summary: “The pressure on the world’s natural resources will be lower if we eat more vegetables and less meat. Reducing food waste, eating smaller servings or eating meat less are examples of ways to reduce meat consumption.
From a health perspective, there is no need to eat as much meat as the average Swedish consumer does today. Instead, by increasing consumption of vegetables, health as well as environmental gains could be achieved.
Nutrient runoff and pesticide use in agriculture is influenced by the amount of meat we consume, from which animals the meat comes and which feed they eat. But reduced nutrient runoff and reduced pesticide use can also be achieved by improving production methods at the farm level.
There are also positive environmental impacts from meat production. Grazing animals are required in order to preserve Swedish semi-natural pastures. These pastures are important for biodiversity and rural landscapes. Further, meat production contributes to jobs on the Swedish countryside. However, particularly for beef there is a conflict of interest between preserving pastures and jobs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
It matters how the animals are raised. Free-range outdoor production, where the animals grow slowly, often contributes to higher emissions per kg of meat than intensive confined production. However, here there is a conflict of interest in relation to other sustainability criteria, for example animal welfare. It is therefore difficult to generalize and say that intensive production systems are always better.
Animals living in a good environment where they can perform their natural behavior have better conditions for good health. A high level of animal welfare combined with a comparatively low infection risk contributes to good animal health on Swedish farms. Healthy animals require less antibiotics, which means less risk of antibiotic resistance.
This report is part of a project about sustainable consumption of agricultural products. The aim of the project is to provide and disseminate information about the effects of the consumption of agricultural products on the environment, the climate and the society. The goal is to help consumers make conscious choices.”

World poultry consumption expected to surpass red meat in 2014

World poultry consumption will surpass red meat consumption next year, Poultry Perspective economist Paul Aho said Jan. 30 at the International Production and Processing Expo in Atlanta.
“It’s going to happen. We’re going to surpass red meat in per capita consumption for 2014. We’re already on the upswing and they’re still continuing to decline,” Aho said.
Aho said that things are definitely looking up for the poultry industry, which is bouncing back after a dismal 2012. Aho noted the odds of a second straight year of drought in the corn belt are only about 17 percent. But even if there are back-to-back years of drought, increased worldwide corn production and improved moisture will eventually bring feed prices back to more comfortable levels.
“Good times are on the way. I’m just not sure if it will be this year or not,” said Aho.
Overall meat consumption dropped when the 2008 worldwide recession hit. Economic times are improving, and some sectors of animal proteins have done better than others. Poultry has bounced back, while pork has not yet done that, and beef appears destined to continue a downward production trend.
“We’re going to see unimaginably high prices for beef, which is good for the chicken industry,” said Aho. “If we can combine low grain prices and high beef prices, we could be looking at some very good times.

Prospects good for increased meat consumption abroad

While meat and poultry consumption appears to be on the decline in the U.S., the global prospects for growth in meat consumption are good, said John Anderson, American Farm Bureau Federation livestock economist.
Anderson, presenting at the International Production and Processing Expo, explained that broiler production had steadily increased by about 3.5 percent annually, but that growth has leveled off. Pork production has also remained steady, while beef production has dropped.
While production has dropped some due to the drought and high feed costs, decreased demand has also contributed. Eating habits have changed in the U.S., Anderson said, not only due to more ethnic diversity, but also because of economics.
Anderson noted that while U.S. consumers have been resistant to accept rising prices, foreign consumers have not. He expects exports to continue to climb, and that can have an impact on the overall price that U.S. shoppers pay at the grocery store.
“U.S. consumers are being outbid by foreign customers,” said Anderson.

Higher feed costs may mean higher meat prices in 2013

Higher animal feed costs due to the U.S. drought that ruined crops and continues to cause challenges for farmers could mean high global meat prices into 2013 as producers struggle to regain profits, according to a Reuters report.
So far, farmers have tried to control costs by scaling back production — pig producers, for example, slaughtered their breeding sows, temporarily increasing the amount of meat on the market but creating a drop that won't be felt until 2013. "If you take a breeding pig out of the system now it takes around nine months before there is any impact on the level of slaughtering because of the lifespan of a pig," said Stephen Howarth, analyst for Britain's Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board–British Pig Executive. Retail prices for pork and beef in the U.S. are stable at the moment, but according to analysts retailers will eventually be forced to pass on rising costs to consumers when supplies get tighter. "Because there is no immediate drop-off in production, you don't tend to get much of a price reaction in the short term," said Howarth. "It can feed through into a bigger price reaction further down the line."
As prices rise, say experts, consumers are expected to switch to cheaper meats. "For 2013, we may see a little bit more substitution by consumers away from beef and towards chicken and pork because we'll see record high price levels across most categories, especially for beef," said Jim Robb, director of the Livestock Information Center in Colorado.
The Livestock Marketing Information Center has forecast 2013 U.S. beef production at 24.8 billion pounds, the lowest since 2005, and 23.6 billion for 2014, its lowest since 1993. Livestock economist Chris Hurt of the University of Purdue said the U.S. hog industry should begin to see a reduction in pork supply about May or June 2013, and Howarth said European Union pork production should decline by at least 2 percent in 2013.

Global meat production, consumption curbed due to drought and disease

Global meat production rose to 297 million tons in 2011, an increase of 0.8 percent over 2010 levels, and is projected to reach 302 million tons by the end of 2012, according to new research conducted by the Worldwatch Institute's Nourishing the Planet project for the institute's Vital Signs Online service.
By comparison, meat production rose 2.6 percent in 2010 and has risen 20 percent since 2001. Record drought in the U.S. Midwest, animal disease outbreaks and rising prices of livestock feed all contributed to 2011 and 2012's lower rise in production, according to report authors Danielle Nierenberg and Laura Reynolds. Meat consumption also decreased slightly worldwide in 2011, from 42.5 kilograms per person in 2010 to 42.3 kilograms. Since 1995, however, per capita meat consumption has increased 15 percent overall; in developing countries, it increased 25 percent during this time, whereas in industrialized countries it increased just 2 percent.
Although the disparity between meat consumption in developing and industrialized countries is shrinking, it remains high, according to the report: the average person in a developing country ate 32.3 kilograms of meat in 2011, whereas in industrialized countries people ate 78.9 kilograms on average.
Pork was the most popular meat in 2011, accounting for 37 percent of both meat production and consumption, at 109 million tons. This was followed closely by poultry meat, with 101 million tons produced. Yet pork production decreased 0.8 percent from 2010, whereas poultry meat production rose 3 percent, making it likely that poultry will become the most-produced meat in the next few years, said the report.
Widespread and intense drought in China, Russia, the U.S. and the Horn of Africa contributed to lower meat production — and higher prices — in 2010 and 2011. The combination of high prices for meat products and outbreaks of new and recurring zoonotic diseases in 2011 curtailed global meat consumption. In 2011 alone, foot-and-mouth disease was detected in Paraguay, African swine fever in Russia, classical swine fever in Mexico and avian influenza (H5N1) throughout Asia.
According to a 2012 report by the International Livestock Research Institute, zoonoses cause around 2.7 million human deaths each year, and approximately 75 percent of all emerging infectious diseases now originate in animals or animal products. Many zoonotic disease outbreaks can be traced to concentrated animal feeding operations, which now account for 72 percent of poultry production, 43 percent of egg production and 55 percent of pork production worldwide.

Worldwatch finds meat production, consumption on the rise

Global meat production and meat consumption have increased rapidly in recent decades, affecting the environment and public health as well as the economy, according to research conducted by Worldwatch Institute's Nourishing the Planet project.
Worldwide meat production has tripled over the last four decades and increased 20% in the last 10 years alone, according to the research.Worldwide, per capita meat consumption increased from 41.3 kilograms in 2009 to 41.9 kilograms in 2010. People in the developing world eat 32 kilograms of meat a year on average, compared to 80 kilograms per person in the industrial world. Demand for livestock products will nearly double in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, from 200 kilocalories per person per day in 2000 to some 400 kilocalories in 2050, according to the research. Findings name pork as the most widely consumed meat in the world, followed by poultry, beef and mutton. In the meat sector, poultry production is the fastest growing with a 4.7% rise in 2010 to 98 million tons. 

Rise in agriculture market prices leading to higher food costs

Demands for U.S. agriculture and meat products are projected to be near their highest in 2011, coming at a time when production is down and prices are rising each month and hitting record highs.
The latest storm in the U.S. contributed to price increases, with corn rising almost 2.5% in Chicago and lean hogs edging higher as investors reweighed the impact of the snowstorm that halted grains and livestock movement in the Midwest. Corn futures for March finished up $0.16, or 2.4%, at above $6.78 per bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade. For the week, the market was up more than 5%.
A Reuters poll on Friday showed U.S. cattle and hog futures were expected to hit record highs in 2011, setting the stage for less meat on the dining table. "That should push up prices," said Ron Plain, an agricultural economist at the University of Missouri. Profits made by Tyson Foods in the last quarter by selling pork and beef at higher prices also showed food makers might pass rising costs to consumers.
Wheat for March fell 0.6% to $8.53 per bushel, but was up 3.3% on the week. Soybeans finished almost flat on the day and up 2.6% on the week.

Chicken to win more market share in China, EuroTier attendees told

Projections from the China Animal Agriculture Association suggest that poultry will gain a larger share of the total Chinese meat supply over the next 10 years, although pork looks certain to remain the most popular of all the meats eaten nationally. The projected figures were presented by CAAA representatives at a series of meetings held during the EuroTier 2010 exhibition in Germany.
Dr Ma Cheung, the association’s deputy secretary-general, told the meetings that the 12.1 million metric tons of poultry meat consumed in China in 2009 meant an average of almost 9.5 kilograms per person per year. A CAAA study of prospects for the next 10 years has concluded that consumption in 2020 may reach 26.14 million metric tons or 18.5 kg per person annually.
For pork, the study team considered that consumption could remain at an average of 101 grams per person per day so the total amount per year rose only in line with population growth. China’s population is expected to increase by 6-7 million people per year between 2010 and 2020, which would mean the annual amount consumed rising from 49 million metric tons to approximately 52 million tons.
The problem for Chinese pig production in meeting this extra demand is that it will face much tougher restrictions in some areas due to environmental protection, Dr Ma warned. A possible relocation of production facilities has been contemplated, away from the heavily populated zones of the south-east of the country and towards northern areas that have greater resources of grain and land. 

Group aims to give meat, poultry sector employers a voice

The National Skills Academy for Food and Drink Manufacturing is coordinating a skills steering group aimed at bringing industry employers together to combat training and recruitment issues in the meat and poultry sector.
The group will focus on a range of issues, including the image of the sector and plans to drive up the recruitment of high-caliber graduates and managers. "The steering group at Harper Adams [University College] shows that the industry is ready to take action," said Mica MacInnes, skills consultant for meat and poultry at the Academy. “The steering group will bring employers from across the meat and poultry sector together and give them a voice to help drive it forward."

Cargill collaborates with Meyer Natural Foods

Cargill Inc. and Meyer Natural Foods have joined to expand sales of Meyer Natural Angus and Laura’s Lean Beef to Cargill’s retail and food service customers. Goods sold under the deal will be produced by Cargill at its Fort Morgan, Colo., facility.
Terms of the May agreement were not disclosed. Cargill's U.S. meat business is headquartered in Wichita, Kan., and Meyer Natural Foods is headquartered in Loveland, Colo.