May 21, 2014

The Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resources Economics and Sciences, the Australian government's agricultural research arm, forecasts that China's meat imports will skyrocket 3,500% to US$150 billion by 2050.

This is due to the surge in consumption of chicken, pork and beef in the country on the back of the rising affluence of the Chinese population.

It will also have an impact on the environment and make it tough for finding sources for feed, analysts said.

"The shift from a rice to meat diet has already happened in China. Even small changes in the way China consumes can have a large impact overseas," said Patrick Vizzone, Asia head of food and agribusiness at National Australia Bank.

Vizzone said that between now and 2050, China will account for over 40% of the increase in world's food demand. He also added that Chinese investments in Australian agricultural sector had reached AUD1.5 billion (US41.39 billion) in announced deals so far.

China accounted for 3% of Australia's beef exports in 2012. By the end of 2013, it soared to 20%.

The report said the USDA is projecting an increase in China's pork, poultry, and beef output to 90 million tonnes by 2023/24, a surge of about 30%.

China is also expected to account for 40% of the rise in global corn trade in the following ten years, and the USDA expects China to become the leading corn importer by 2023/24.