Global Meat Consumption

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Questions and Answers

What percentage of the world's available freshwater is used in agriculture?

90%

50%

80%

70% (correct)

Which of the following meats has the highest water footprint?

Beef (correct)

Lamb

Chicken

Pork

What is the approximate amount of water used to produce 1 kg of rice?

3,400 liters (correct)

2,500 liters

5,000 liters

1,000 liters

What is a major concern related to industrial livestock production?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What is driving the call for change in industrial livestock production?

Consumer awareness Signup and view all the answers

What is a goal of plans related to industrial livestock production?

Reduce antibiotic use Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant consequence of concentrating animal wastes in industrial farming systems?

Contamination of land and groundwater Signup and view all the answers

What is a major concern regarding the use of antibiotics in industrial farming systems?

Development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria Signup and view all the answers

What is a contributing factor to the increase in greenhouse gas production and climate change?

Deforestation to support livestock production Signup and view all the answers

What is the estimated global meat production in 2013?

308.5 million tons Signup and view all the answers

What is the forecasted growth rate of global meat production in 2014?

1.1% Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of industrial livestock production on land and water resources?

Strain on land and water resources Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of industrialized farming systems?

Large numbers of animals in a single location Signup and view all the answers

What is a concern regarding the treatment of human infections in relation to industrial farming systems?

Ineffective treatment of human infections Signup and view all the answers

Which country had the highest meat consumption per person in 2011?

New Zealand Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of Germans' meat consumption is made up of pork?

61% Signup and view all the answers

Which type of meat requires the most farmland to produce?

Beef Signup and view all the answers

How much of the world's agricultural land is used for livestock pasture?

70% Signup and view all the answers

What is the estimated annual antibiotic use for livestock farming in Europe?

8,500 tons Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of the world's grain production is fed to livestock annually?

40% Signup and view all the answers

Which type of meat represents the most consumed meat by Saudi Arabians?

Chicken Signup and view all the answers

How does feeding livestock with grain compete with human food needs?

It sets up food competition between livestock and people. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Global Meat Consumption

People in New Zealand consume the most meat per person (126.7 kg) followed by Australians (121.1 kg) in 2011.
In contrast, people in Bangladesh and India consume only around 4 kg of meat per person.
The Chinese consume almost 14 times as much meat per person as Indians.

Type of Meat Consumed

Argentinians consume 54% beef, Germans consume 61% pork, and Saudi Arabians consume 74% poultry.

Antibiotic Use

In 2011, the US used 13,600 tons of antibiotics for livestock, Europe used 8,500 tons, and China used over 100,000 tons.
In China, more antibiotics are used for livestock than for treating ill people (3,500 tons).

Land Use

Around 70% of agricultural land is used for animal pasture, and 10% for growing grains fed to livestock.
Beef production requires 3-5 times more land than pork or chicken to produce the same amount of protein.
Beef uses about 3/5 of global farmland but yields less than 5% of the world’s protein and less than 2% of its calories.

Grain Use

Around 800 million tons of wheat, oats, rye, and corn are fed to animals annually, accounting for over 40% of world production.
Additionally, 250 million tons of soybeans and other oilseeds are fed to livestock annually.

Water Use

Agriculture uses about 70% of the world’s available freshwater, with one-third of that used to grow grain for livestock.
Producing 1 kg of beef requires over 15,000 liters of water, much more than required for other staple foods like rice, eggs, milk, or potatoes.

Disadvantages of Industrial Livestock Production

Soil and water pollution due to concentrated animal wastes and deforestation.
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria due to excessive antibiotic use in industrialized systems.
Strains on land and water resources, contributing to climate change and greenhouse gas production.