The steady growth of global meat production comes at considerable cost. Industrial methods in the livestock sector cut down forests to expand grazing lands and use large quantities of water. Production uses grains (such as corn or soybeans) for animal feed and relies on heavy doses of antibiotics in animals. Beef is particularly resource-intensive. Limiting these environmental and health impacts requires not only a look at how much meat people eat, but also at the kind of meat that they consume worldwide.

1. Meet your Meat:
Trends and Impacts of
Meat Production

2. 0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
©Worldwatch Institute
Sources: FAOSTAT
World meat production has
increased more than 4-fold since 1961
MillionTons
308.5 million tons
(2013)
Worldwatch Institute | Vital SignsOnline

3. Top Meat Exporters 2013
Top exporting countries
1.7
7.6
6.4
1.9
2
1.8
4
Worldwatch Institute | Vital SignsOnline

4. Top Meat Producers, by Continent
131.558.5
47.2
39.9
… MillionTons
North
America
Europe
Asia
South
America
Worldwatch Institute | Vital SignsOnline

5. About 43 kg of meat per capita
were consumed in 2013
Industrial
countries:
76 kg per capita
Developing
countries:
33 kg per capita
But the
gap is
slowly
narrowing
Worldwatch Institute | Vital SignsOnline

6. Close to 70% of agricultural land
is used for pasture
Another 10% is used to grow
feed for livestock
Worldwatch Institute | Vital SignsOnline

7. Sales
Meatland
Other land
Beef production is very resource-intensive
It uses 60% of farmland, but
yields less than 5% of world’s protein
60%
5%
60%
proteinfarmland
Worldwatch Institute | Vital SignsOnline

8. Agriculture uses 70% of
the world’s available freshwater
One third of that is used to produce
feed for livestock
Worldwatch Institute | Vital SignsOnline

9. Beef is much more water-intensive
than many staple foods
Beef
Rice Eggs
15,000 1,0003,300
Milk
3,400 250
Potatoes
Liters per kilogram
Worldwatch Institute | Vital SignsOnline

10. Alternatives in meat production
could reduce impacts
Using grass instead of grain for feed
Reduces competition for food between cattle and people
Using natural fertilizers
Lowers use of synthetic fertilizers
Ending factory-style production
Reduces dependence on antibiotics
Worldwatch Institute | Vital SignsOnline

11. Sales
Meatland
Other land
Changes in meat consumption
could reduce impacts
Eating less meat
Choosing lower-impact meats
Worldwatch Institute | Vital SignsOnline

12. For more information,
visit ourVital Sign:
bit.ly/meatpro

13. AboutVital Signs Online:
Vital Signs Online is produced by the
Worldwatch Institute and provides business
leaders, policymakers, and engaged citizens
with the latest data and analysis they need
to understand critical global trends.
vitalsigns.worldwatch.org

14. About theWorldwatch Institute:
Through research and outreach that inspire
action, theWorldwatch Institute works to
accelerate the transition to a sustainable
world that meets human needs.
www.worldwatch.org

15. www.worldwatch.org
bit.ly/meatpro
vitalsigns.worldwatch.org