(2023, June 20). FAO meat outlook: Production, trade, and prices in 2023. Pid33.com. Retrieved August 8, 2023, from https://www.pig333.com/latest_swine_news/fao-meat-outlook-production-trade-and-prices-in-2023_19446/

 

World total meat production in 2023 is estimated to increase slightly to 364 million tonnes(carcass weight equivalent) from 345.17 tonnes(carcass weight equivalent) in 2023. Mainly driven by an increase in poultry(chicken) meat production, production is expected to increase the most by volume. Global ovine(sheep) meat production is also forecasted to increase mainly in Asia and Oceania. However, global pig meat production is expected to drop slightly, by -0.5%. Similarly, global bovine(cattle) meat production is expected to fall marginally. World trade in meat is expected to reach 42 million tonnes(carcass weight equivalent) slightly more than that of 2022. 

 

This article explores the changes in global meat production mainly comparing it to last year, 2022. While many know that meat production is a big part of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, many do not look into the amount that meat production itself changes year to year. This article explores the areas of meat production regarding total estimated meat production for this year. It then breaks down that total estimate into the different categories of meat production and explains a little of why each different meat type may be increasing or decreasing in production. The article also explores how world trade in meat and meat products has changed and compares it to last year. I was surprised to read that meat production and prices took a big spike last year in 2022 but this year, they increased only by a small percentage. Lower than last year and years prior. I was also interested to learn about different viruses that are currently affecting meat production such as the African swine fever virus in Europe. Prior to reading this article I knew nothing about viruses in food and how it affects meat production, other than Covid-19.