Economic growth is fuelling a protein revolution in global agriculture, with the demand for livestock, poultry and fish estimated to double by 2050, says a report by the Global Harvest Initiative (GHI).
GHI’s Global Agricultural Productivity Report said livestock, poultry and fish will be the largest drivers of the world’s food economy, with 70 per cent of the increase coming from developing countries.
From 2013 to 2030 — poultry and egg demand will increase by 63 per cent, milk by 55 per cent, and ruminant meat by 44 per cent, all of them outpacing population growth, says the report by GHI, formed in 2009 by big corporates involved in agri-business, such as Monsanto, John Deere, DuPont, Elcano and Accenture.
World per capita fish consumption from 2013 to 2023 will also increase by 9 per cent (1.7 kilograms per person) reaching 20.9 kg per person in 2023, says the report.
This year’s report throws special spotlight on India, which it sees as crucial to increasing global farm productivity in the backdrop of the “evolving food needs and preferences of its expanding middle class, while assuring food security for all its citizens.”
GHI called upon India for introducing policies that incentivise private sector investment and growth, and unleash innovation in agricultural productivity and marketing, water and land conservation, and adaptation to climate change.
“Consumer demand for a greater variety of high-quality foods creates new business opportunities for Indian farmers, processors, and retailers… Increasing the amount of food available through more marketing channels would generate new jobs and economic growth,” says the report.
Overall, the report said global agricultural output would have to double in order to meet the expected demand for food, feed, fibre and fuel by 2050.
Margaret Zeigler, Executive Director of GHI, said “Raising productivity across all regions and for farmers of any size and scale requires long-term investments and sustained focus if we are going to have sufficient nutritious and affordable food and agriculture.”
She said there was need for greater investment in agricultural research and development, better trade agreements for facilitation of global and regional trade in agriculture, and a commitment to apply information and science-based technologies.