A latest study by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has found that global supplies of meat, milk and eggs have expanded dramatically over the past six decades, but access to these foods remains highly uneven across regions, with affordability and availability continuing to limit consumption in many low- and middle-income countries.
The study, titled Drivers of Supply and Demand of Terrestrial Animal Source Food – An Evidence and Policy Overview on the State of Knowledge and Gaps, examined global trends in the production, supply and consumption of terrestrial animal source foods (TASF), including meat, milk, eggs and other livestock-derived foods.
The report was prepared as part of FAO’s broader assessment of livestock’s contribution to food security, nutrition and sustainable agrifood systems.
According to the report, global production of terrestrial animal source foods increased sharply between 1961 and 2022. Meat production rose from about 71 million tonnes in 1961 to 361 million tonnes in 2022, while milk production grew from approximately 342 million tonnes to 930 million tonnes. Egg production also expanded significantly, increasing from around 15 million tonnes to 94 million tonnes over the same period.
The study attributes much of this growth to rapid increases in poultry meat, eggs and pig meat production. Poultry meat recorded the most substantial growth, increasing nearly fivefold during the period, while pig meat and egg supplies almost doubled. In contrast, supplies of bovine meat remained stable or declined in several regions.
FAO noted that livestock has become one of the fastest-growing components of the agricultural sector as demand for animal-source foods continues to rise worldwide. However, the report stresses that higher production has not translated into equal access for all populations.
The assessment found that Asia has emerged as the world’s largest producer of terrestrial animal source foods, followed by Europe. Yet Northern America records the highest per capita supply of these foods, while Asia, despite its production dominance, has comparatively lower availability per person.
In sub-Saharan Africa, per capita supply has remained largely stagnant over the years, with only limited improvements observed in some countries, including milk availability in Kenya and poultry meat supply in South Africa.
The report also highlights affordability as a major challenge. Terrestrial animal source foods are generally more expensive in low- and middle-income countries relative to household incomes than in wealthier nations.
The situation is particularly pronounced in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where many households struggle to afford nutritious animal-source foods.
Another concern identified by the study is food loss and waste. FAO estimates that about 14 percent of terrestrial animal source foods are either lost or wasted due to factors such as poor cold-chain infrastructure, inadequate temperature control and the highly perishable nature of these products.
These losses are especially significant in developing countries, where access to refrigeration and storage facilities remains limited.
Although international trade in animal-source foods has increased, the report notes that it still accounts for only around 10 percent of global consumption, indicating that domestic production remains the primary source of supply in most countries.
FAO said the findings underscore the need for policies that not only boost production but also improve affordability, accessibility and sustainability to ensure that growing supplies of livestock-derived foods contribute to healthier diets and better nutrition outcomes worldwide.
