Biotech Updates

Major Gains in Efficiency of Livestock Systems Needed

December 16, 2011

World Livestock 2011, a report of the livestock industry on the current status and strategies on how to respond to increased population and meat demand, was released by the Food and Agriculture Organization. Meat consumption is expected to rise to nearly 73 percent by 2050 and consumption to as much as 58 percent over the current levels.

According to the report, intensive production is the only solution to provide the bulk of the livestock food supply taking into consideration the environmental impact. The report recommended the following: reduce the level of pollution generated from waste and greenhouse gases; reduce the input of water and grain needed for each output of livestock protein; and recycle agro-industrial by-products through livestock populations.

The original article can be viewed at http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/116937/icode/