Asia to see 78% spike in meat eating by 2050: Report

Population growth and rising incomes across Asia will drive a 78 per cent increase in meat and seafood consumption by 2050, a new report released on Tuesday said.

The report – Charting Asia's Protein Journey' – by Asia Research and Engagement (ARE) which examines the environmental effects of meeting Asia's growing demand for protein, was released at the Sustainable Food Summit here.

It discloses for the first time the dramatic impact on water, land-use, anti-microbial use and the climate.

In India, it says consumers have gradually switched from bovine meat to poultry over the past two to three decades, a trend that it project to continue in the medium term, with an increase in beef and water buffalo exports to higher earning countries.

In India, consumers have gradually switched from bovine meat to poultry over the past two to three decades, said the report

The study modelled Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan and South Korea individually and projected values for the rest of Asia.

Specifically, the report finds that between 2017 and 2050 greenhouse gas emissions will rise 88 per cent from 2.9 billion tonnes of CO2 to 5.4 billion tonnes per year -- equivalent to 95 million lifetime emissions by cars.

India's greenhouse gas emissions will decrease marginally by 2030 before increasing 21 per cent by 2050 due to the changing mix of consumption -- with lower proportion of bovine meats that have high associated emissions.

A land mass the size of India will be required to accommodate food production with land usage rising 81 per cent from 3.9 million sq km to 7.1 million sq km.