Economic and Environmental Impact of Meat Consumption

This paper adds to the existing literature on the estimation of future consumption patterns. I first forecast the demand of beef, chicken and pig products for the years 2020 and 2040 using a simultaneous equations model for the world and specific regions. Then, using existing research on “best existing case” scenarios of the ecological impact of different foods, I estimate the land usage and greenhouse emissions of meat production. Finally, I address the impact of these consumption patterns on issues of sustainability. I argue that the current growth of meat consumption is not economically or ecologically sustainable, meaning that a radical shift in consumption patterns will have to happen soon. JEL Classifications: O13, Q17, Q27, Q53, Q56