Global Meat Production Expected to Grow 2 Percent in 2008

This snapshot of global meat trends includes historical data from 1961 to 2007 as well as future estimates for production. It reveals that:

• Annual meat production is expected to top 465 million tons by the year 2050.
• In 2007, at least 60 percent of meat was produced in developing countries, though the United States leads in both poultry and beef production. China is the dominant producer of pork, the leading global meat product.
• Rising food costs are driving the expansion of cheaper meats, like chicken, which experienced a 4 percent increase in 2007.
• Livestock are responsible for 18 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions—a higher share than from transportation.

Most of the increasing demand for animal products worldwide is being met by factory farms. This trend has implications not only for animal welfare but also for disease control, public health, water use, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Read the Vital Signs Update: Meat Production Continues to Rise.

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