health
Average person eats six times more chicken than in 1961, UN report finds
UN report says global meat supply has risen fourfold in last 60 years and is expected to keep rising
TL;DR
- Global meat supply has risen fourfold in the past 60 years, with average consumption per person increasing significantly.
- Poultry consumption has increased sixfold, and pork consumption has doubled per person since 1961.
- Agriculture, particularly livestock, is a major contributor to global emissions and biodiversity loss.
- The UN report highlights unequal access to animal-source foods, with low-income countries facing affordability constraints.
- Critics argue the report fails to recommend meat reduction for high-income countries, despite their high consumption and the IPCC's call for plant-rich diets.
- The FAO emphasizes technological solutions and balancing the benefits and drawbacks of animal-source foods, rather than outright reduction.