China’s Growing Meat Demands: Implications for Sustainability

Abstract

The chapter examines China’s growing meat demand and its implications. Australia and China are currently set to expand trade in meat and livestock facilitated by a government negotiated Free Trade Agreement. China is already the world’s largest meat consumer and with the increasing consumerism and wealth of its rapidly growing middle and upper class, the demand for animal products is likely to grow. This country’s unprecedented appetite for animal proteins has stimulated the Australian livestock and related sectors, potentially enabling vast growth and profitability within these industries. Chinese customers have strong purchasing power and are eager to buy imported frozen and locally slaughtered Australian meat. While Australian farmers are capitalising on these economic opportunities, only the animal welfare sector voices any concern. This chapter highlights the ignored health and environmental costs.