Posted on 16 July 2025:
RISING GLOBAL APPETITE: GROWTH, GAPS AND GREEN CHALLENGES
As incomes rise and cities expand across middle-income nations, global demand for meat, dairy, and fish is set to increase steadily over the coming decade, reports UN News on15 July 2025. Yet, a recent study by the UN (FAO) and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD )highlights a pressing duality—nutritional imbalances persist, even as environmental pressures mount. This evolving landscape calls for mindful solutions that nourish both people and the planet.
Across the globe, a quiet shift unfolds as the appetite for animal-source foods—meat, fish, dairy and eggs—grows steadily. By 2034, per capita consumption is expected to rise by 6%, with lower middle-income countries witnessing a remarkable 24% leap, driven by evolving lifestyles and urban growth.
To meet this demand, agricultural and fisheries output is projected to increase by 14%, buoyed by innovation and productivity in middle-income regions.
From the gentle hum of dairy farms to the pulse of thriving fish markets, the global food system moves in rhythm with change—where tradition meets technology, and growth seeks harmony with sustainability.
A Greener Plate – Echoes of Growth and Grace
As global production of meat, dairy and eggs rises, and livestock inventories expand by 2034, the harvest seems abundant. But beneath this promise lies a quieter concern—greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture may rise by 6%, even as farming becomes more efficient.
Yet the future holds a gentler path. With mindful investments, nourishing innovation, and nature-aligned technologies, emissions could fall 7% below today’s levels. Precision farming, better feed and nutrition-focused efforts become the brushstrokes in a canvas of sustainable change. This is a moment to sow wisdom—where food feeds not just our bodies, but our planet’s breath and balance.
“Let the earth breathe as we feast; for in every grain, every drop of milk, every echo of the farm lies a story not just of nourishment—but of harmony, heritage and hope.”
