March 8, 2011

Majority of world meat production growth comes from poultry 

Poultry will provide 60% of increasing global demand for meat in the next decade, replacing pork as the world's most popular meat by 2020.

The forecast comes from a GIRA report cited by the National Chicken Council in its Washington Report. GIRA is an international meat consultancy based in Ferney-Voltaire, France.

According to the prediction, worldwide demand for animal protein will see an increase of 40 million tonnes in the next decade. That figure accounts for about 14% of the current total, and approximately 24 of those 40 million tonnes will be poultry meat.

Poultry meat is forecast to grow at double the rate of pork. According to the report, Americans eat double the world average of poultry currently.

GIRA credits poultry's relatively low consumer price (compared to beef and pork) with the increase. The US, South America, Russia, the Middle East and China will see the highest growth in poultry demand.