Asia’s rising appetite for meat, seafood will ‘strain environment’
Growing demand for food will increase greenhouse gas emissions from 2.9 billion tonnes of CO2 per year to 5.4 billion tonnes – the equivalent of the lifetime emissions of 95 million cars, according to researchers
Asia’s growing appetite for meat and seafood over the next three decades will cause huge increases in greenhouse gas emissions and antibiotics used in foods, researchers said on Tuesday.
Rising population, incomes and urbanisation will drive a 78 per cent increase in meat and seafood demand from 2017 to 2050, according to a report by Asia Research and Engagement Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based consultancy firm.
“We wanted to highlight that, because of the large population and how fast the population is growing, it is going to put a strain on the environment,” co-author Serena Tan said. “By recognising this and where it comes from, we can tackle the solutions.”
With supply chains ramping up to meet demand, greenhouse gas emissions will jump from 2.9 billion tonnes of CO2 per year to 5.4 billion tonnes – the equivalent of the lifetime emissions of 95 million cars – the researchers said.
A land area the size of India will be needed for additional food production, according to the report, while water use will climb from 577 billion cubic metres per year to 1,054 billion cubic metres per year.
The use of antimicrobials, which kill or stop the growth of micro-organisms, and include antibiotics, will increase 44 per cent to 39,000 tonnes per year, said the report, which was commissioned by the Hong Kong-based ADM Capital Foundation.
Overuse and misuse of antibiotics in food is rife in Southeast Asia, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said this year, warning of serious risks for people and animals as bacterial infections become more resistant to treatment.