NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD NEWS) — China’s shift toward animal protein consumption continues reshaping global feed and meat markets, with rising purchases of meat, eggs, and dairy closely matching declines in cereal grain consumption.
Retired USDA Economist Dr. Fred Gale reports Chinese household survey data show per capita cereal grain purchases fell from 138.9 kilograms in 2013 to 110.6 kilograms in 2024, while purchases of meat, fish, eggs, and dairy rose from 59.8 kilograms to 88.1 kilograms over the same period. The near one-to-one shift reflects broader dietary change as incomes rise and food preferences evolve.
Pork remains dominant in China’s protein mix despite growth in beef and mutton demand and steady egg consumption. Poultry and fish purchases have plateaued in recent years, while urban dairy consumption has declined since 2021, even as rural dairy consumption rises. Rural households have largely closed the gap with urban consumers in pork, poultry, and egg consumption.
Survey data show the shift accelerating in recent years, including a sharp drop in cereal purchases in 2024, while vegetable and fruit consumption also increased alongside protein demand.
In part six of his blog series,"Top 10 Developments in Ag Law and Tax in 2023,” farm legal expert Roger McEowen tackles issue #2, foreign ownership of ag land.
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“Where The Food Comes From” visits M&B Products, a milk bottling plant in Temple Terrace, FL (a suburb of Tampa) with its farm in Lecanto, operated by the McClellan family. Get ready for a lesson in everything from milk bottling, to dairy nutrition, and bovine reproduction!
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As we start the new year, let’s take a look at some of the legislative items from 2023 affecting agriculture that will continue to play out in the political area for months to come.
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