Meat: the Future

The report examines the critical role of livestock in developing and emerging economies, where demand for meat, milk, and eggs is rising rapidly due to population growth in Africa and increasing incomes in Asia. It argues for a 'third way' of sustainable intensification for smallholder farms that avoids the pitfalls of both subsistence and industrial models. The document outlines four pathways for the future: transforming small- and medium-scale systems, developing industrial-scale enterprises, increasing imports, and adopting alternative proteins. It emphasizes that livestock are 'living assets' essential for livelihoods, nutrition, and economic resilience for over half a billion people, while acknowledging the need to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and antimicrobial resistance.

• Demand for livestock-derived foods is projected to grow significantly in Africa and Asia by 2030. Africa's demand is expected to increase by 80% between 2010 and 2030, primarily driven by population growth, with specific increases in beef (125%), eggs (77%), poultry (60%), and milk (46%). In Asia, demand is driven by both population and rising incomes, with projections exceeding 600 million metric tonnes per year by 2030.
• Livestock serve as critical 'living assets' for over 500 million people in emerging and developing economies, providing essential nutrition, income, and financial security. They act as 'walking bank and savings accounts' for the unbanked and are a primary asset for women, who make up two-thirds of the world's poor livestock keepers.
• The report proposes a 'third way' for smallholder livestock systems that focuses on sustainable intensification rather than industrialization. This approach aims to increase productivity and reduce GHG emissions per unit of product while maintaining crop-livestock integration, avoiding extreme confinement, and utilizing technologies for better feed, genetics, and health.
• Livestock contribute between 7% and 18% of total global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. While industrial systems may have a lower footprint per unit of product, the report notes that producers could reduce emissions by up to 30% through technical and financial support for improved practices.
• The document identifies four primary pathways to meet future protein needs: transforming small- and medium-scale mixed and herding systems; developing industrial-scale enterprises; increasing imports of livestock-derived foods; and utilizing alternative proteins such as plant-based foods, insects, and lab-cultured cells.
• Industrial-scale livestock production can lower the environmental footprint per unit and provide cheaper food for urban populations, but it risks displacing smallholders, increasing disease risks due to animal concentration, and creating waste management hazards.
• Alternative proteins, particularly insects, offer high efficiency in converting feed to meat and require minimal land and water. However, the report notes that for these to be viable in developing regions, they must be co-designed to balance environmental benefits with the livelihood needs of millions who rely on traditional livestock.
• The report highlights significant health risks associated with livestock, including food-borne diseases that cause 420,000 deaths annually (mostly children) and the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which could cause 10 million human deaths per year by 2050.

APA

World Economic Forum (2019). Meat: the Future. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/White_Paper_Livestock_Emerging%20Economies.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. Meat: the Future. 2019. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/White_Paper_Livestock_Emerging%20Economies.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=Meat: the Future |date=January 2019 |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/White_Paper_Livestock_Emerging%20Economies.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2019meat, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{Meat: the Future}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2019}, month = jan, url = {http://www3.weforum.org/docs/White_Paper_Livestock_Emerging%20Economies.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }