Practical production of protein for food animals

摘要

Demand for meat could increase by 58 percent between 1995 and 2020 according to IMPACT food model predictions of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Poultry meat demand might increase by 85 percent; beef by 50 percent and pigmeatby 45 percent over this time period. IFPRI also predict that 97.5 percent of the population increase up to 2020 will be in the developing world, representing at this time 84 percent of global society. Income growth; urbanization; changes in lifestyles and food preferences in addition to continuing population growth could double the demand for meat in the developing world up to 2020. Other drivers for change in the agri-food sector include advances in technology; regulatory requirements and institutional pressures; environmental considerations; globalization influences; competition and political intervention. All of these factors, to a greater or lesser extent, will impact on the so-called 'livestock revolution'. Future feed sources and supply to support the substantial growth in livestock production, as well as the approaches to livestock husbandry, are a continuing cause for concern. Protein availability and supply is a particular concern, especially in the light of meat and bonemeal restrictions, the adoption of genetically modified crops, dioxm residues in fishmeal and increasing pressures on fisheries policy. Sources of protein are reviewed, including by-products of the food industry, oilseeds and arable and forage legumes. Alternative, and currently less common, plant protein sources are assessed.More information is required on less popular protein plants to clearly identify the reasons for relatively low adoption. A much greater emphasis is recommended for improving plant protein supply in marginal growing environments. The increasing importanceof both technical and safety aspects of protein product quality is stressed. Better technology transfer and small fanner support is considered essential for encouraging further protein crop advances.More research is recommended in the short and medium term on agronomy and the further development of alternative, and novel protein supply cropping. More focussed support for longer-term strategies of crop improvement, through both breeding advances andgenetic manipulation, is urged. More meaningful and greater co-operation is advocated between policy-makers; the feed industry; farmers and researchers to better deliver the future protein supply potential.