“In the last 40 years, developed countries were the drivers of growth,” said Osler Desouzart, consultant, OD Consulting. “The world is changing, and it is changing towards Asia." He stated that, in the past, the hope of Brazilians was to export to the EU and Japan; now it will be Asia. Desouzart, who spoke at the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council’s annual meeting in Williamsburg, Va., said that poultry imports in Asia and the Pacific Rim will grow, and imports in the EU will decrease.
Income fuels consumption
Rising standards of living result in the consumption of more animal products, according to Desouzart. “More money in pockets means more meat in the diet,” he said.
Developing countries will be the drivers of growth because of increasing populations and incomes. Desouzart expects that 77 percent of the increase in world poultry production will come in developing countries. He said that poultry production in Asia will grow but not fast enough to keep up with consumption.
Importance of water
Desouzart said that it takes four times more water to produce an animal-based diet than for a vegetable-based diet. Countries will export water-embedded animal products to countries that don’t have enough water to produce them. To an extent, this happens already when grain is exported to arid countries where it is used to feed animals for human consumption. Chicken is the most efficient of the major farm animals at producing meat, so Desouzart said that poultry producers are well positioned to help feed a world where water availability will play an increasing role in where food is produced.
