WMC REPORT - Sustainable Production for Global Meat Industry

ARGENTINA - Global meat demand is expected to grow by between one and two per cent during the remainder of this decade, writes TheMeatSite senior editor Chris Harris from the World Meat Congress in Buenos Aires.

29 September 2010

2 minute read

South America

Speaking at the opening of the congress, outgoing president of the International Meat Secretariat, Paddy Moore said that the prospects for the global industry are to see international trade in meat grow despite the occasional setbacks through animal diseases, food safety scares and issues surrounding market access.

He said that the industry had to prospect of feeding a growing global population with 80 million extra people to feed each year.

In the meat sectors Mr Moore said that the pig and poultry industries are expected to see the greatest growth outperforming lamb and beef.

He said the growth in trade and demand is going to present challenges to the industry in particular in gearing up in terms of greater efficiencies, higher productivity and innovation.

He said the industry is also going to face growing environmental and sustainability concerns.

"The raising of livestock and the ethical production of meat that is not harmful to the environment are issues that have reached international importance," said Mr Moore.

"Probably the greatest single challenge facing our industry it to reconcile the necessity of supplying high quality protein to an expanding world population with the imperative of ensuring that it is ethically produced, safe, wholesome and in harmony with the environment - the sustainable production of meat."

Mr Moore said the industry is also going to have to face the concerns about climate change and greenhouse gas emission produced inn the production of meat.

"The livestock industry has large potential to contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation," he added.

He said that the industry needs to find more precise methods for calculating greenhouse gas emissions.

He said the IMS will be playing its part and has established a committee for sustainable meat.

The IMS is also building on its links with organisations such as the FAO, OECD and the OIE.

The concerns about the effect livestock production has on the environment were echoed by the Argentine vice minister for agriculture Lorenzo Basso.