Rural Issue

Growing global meat consumption–good or bad?

With more and more of the world’s population achieving “middle class” status, the demand for meat products in developing countries is increasing.   But for many of those participating in World Food Prize activities in Des Moines, that is not necessarily a good thing.

The keynote speaker at the Iowa Hunger Summit, Dennis Dimick, an executive editor of National Geographic, listed “shifting diets”—in other words, increased meat consumption—as one of the key issues in the discussion about world hunger.  Here is an excerpt from Dimick’s speech.

AUDIO: Dennis Dimick

But Craig Hill, president of Iowa Farm Bureau, says meat is an important staple in everyone’s diet and that moderation is the key.  Hill says the livestock industry will continue to improve feed conversion and reduce its environmental footprint.  Here is our interview with Hill.

AUDIO: Craig Hill