China now consumes 71 million tons of meat annually, about twice as much as the United States consumes, according to Earth Policy Institute researcher Janet Larsen. This represents more than a fourth of all the meat produced worldwide.
Chinese consumers are demanding more meat than ever, primarily pork. Meanwhile, the United States remains a nation of beef eaters, consuming 11 million tons a year compared with the 6 million tons in consumed in China.
Increased meat consumption also increases demand for grain, particularly corn and soybeans used for livestock feed—which competes with energy and other sectors for a share of the global grain supply. For instance, the U.S. ethanol industry now commands 30% of the U.S. grain crop.
No longer grain self-sufficient, China imported a net 7 million tons in 2011. As meat consumption continues to soar, so will feed imports and global grain prices, warns Larsen.
Source: Earth Policy Institute, www.earth-policy.org.