FAO Report Shows Global Meat Supply Has Increased Fourfold Since 1961

Global supplies of meat, milk and eggs have increased sharply over the past six decades, according to a new report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, FAO.

The study says livestock has become one of the fastest-growing parts of agriculture, with poultry meat recording the biggest increase between 1961 and 2022. Global meat production rose from about 71 million tonnes to 361 million tonnes, while milk production reached 930 million tonnes and egg production climbed to 94 million tonnes.

The report shows that Asia is now the world's largest producer of animal-based foods, followed by Europe. However, access to these foods remains uneven. Northern America has the highest supply per person, while per capita availability in sub-Saharan Africa has seen little improvement.

FAO also noted that food losses and waste continue to worsen supply gaps, with about one-third of food produced globally either lost or wasted. Trade contributes only a small share of global animal food consumption.

The agency warned that the livestock sector still faces challenges, including environmental pressures, animal health concerns, low productivity and the risk of diseases linked to human and animal interactions.