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FAO report finds global meat supply per person nearly doubled since 1961, poultry drives growth, critics say FAO avoids urging rich nations to cut meat despite climate concerns.
FAO report finds global meat supply per person nearly doubled since 1961, poultry drives growth, critics say FAO avoids urging rich nations to cut meat despite climate concerns.
The average person today consumes nearly six times more chicken and twice as much pork as they did in the early 1960s, according to a new United Nations report that highlights the dramatic transformation of global diets over the past six decades.
The report, published by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), found that global meat supply per person has risen from 25 kilograms annually in 1961 to 47 kilograms in 2022, driven largely by the rapid growth of poultry consumption.
According to the data, average chicken supply increased from less than 3 kg per person in 1961 to 17 kg in 2022. Pork consumption also doubled to around 15 kg per person, while beef consumption remained relatively stable at about 9 kg per person.
The report comes as global demand for meat continues to rise, particularly in middle-income countries where rising incomes and urbanisation are changing food habits. The FAO expects meat consumption to keep increasing in the coming years, with poultry remaining the fastest-growing category.
However, the findings have reignited debate over the environmental cost of growing meat consumption.
Agriculture is currently the world’s second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, and the FAO estimates that emissions from the sector could rise by 7.6% over the next decade. Livestock production is expected to account for around 80% of that increase.
Animal agriculture is estimated to contribute between 12% and 20% of global planet-warming emissions and is also a major driver of biodiversity loss and land-use change.
The report noted significant disparities in access to animal-based foods. While meat consumption remains high and relatively stable in wealthy countries, many lower-income nations continue to face affordability challenges and food insecurity.
Despite acknowledging the environmental pressures associated with livestock production, the FAO stopped short of recommending that high-income countries reduce meat consumption. Instead, it focused on improving farming efficiency, reducing waste and deploying technologies to lower emissions from livestock.
That stance has drawn criticism from some scientists and climate experts, who argue that reducing meat consumption in richer countries is one of the most effective ways to cut emissions. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has previously identified a shift toward plant-rich diets as a key strategy for reducing the climate impact of food systems.
The report also found that approximately 14% of meat and milk products are lost or wasted during production, transport and consumption, highlighting another major challenge for global food systems.
Looking ahead, OECD-FAO projections suggest global meat consumption will continue to grow through the next decade, with poultry expected to account for the majority of additional demand because it is cheaper, more efficient to produce and generally viewed as having a lower environmental footprint than beef.
The FAO said a second report later this year will focus more specifically on the environmental sustainability of livestock production and the future of global food systems.
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