It’s More than Just the Meat

Source : Frozen Food Europe｜Author : Frozen Food Europe

Burgers have been a staple food in many cultures for decades. However, with growing concerns over the environmental impact of meat consumption and the health risks associated with a high-meat diet, there has been a notable shift towards plant-based burgers.

So, while beef remains the choice of protein for many consumers, plant-based options are now available at (almost) any grocery, not to mention online channels. It’s no wonder, as most of the food industry is turning towards healthier, environmentally friendly solutions. It’s a change that seems permanent, also, as not just start-ups but renowned manufacturers turn to plant-based.

EU Beef Consumption Will Decrease

Notwithstanding high beef prices, the EU is anticipated to see a further 1.6% decline in beef production in 2023 because of structural changes in the cattle and dairy industries, according to Eurostat’s Spring 2023 Short-term outlook. While imports from the UK and South America could increase by 5% due to the present price environment, exports from the EU are expected to remain stable because global supply is relatively low, and demand is quite firm.

Also, challenging EU exports are a result of high poultry prices in the EU. The suspension of taxes on Ukrainian goods favors chicken imports and expands domestic supply. Despite high domestic prices, the historically low EU sheep and goat flock causes slaughtering to decline by 1% in 2023. A rise in New Zealand imports is anticipated because of the favorable lambing conditions and high EU pricing. On the other hand, EU beef production fell by 2.6% in 2022, more than was initially predicted (-0.6%).

Germany experienced the greatest decline (-8%) among the top producing nations, followed by France (-4.4%) and Poland (-2.6%). It is anticipated that EU beef production will drop 1.6% further in 2023. As there is less beef available in the EU, prices may continue to rise, which could potentially have a detrimental effect on EU consumption and the competitiveness of EU exports. Nonetheless, the demand is robust, and the supply is still low globally, which may help keep shipments from the EU stable in 2023 despite rising prices. Nonetheless, the current price situation may encourage greater imports into the EU. They could increase by another 5%, adding to the 25% growth seen last year, particularly from the UK and South America; this would counteract the brief decline brought on by the effects of COVID-19 with Brexit.

This is envisaged notwithstanding the possibility that Asian markets, particularly China, would be more appealing to Americans while UK flows would return to levels like those before to COVID. EU live exports may also decrease in the same period, but at a slower pace than in previous years (-2%). According to projections, the apparent EU per capita beef consumption will continue to decrease over time and may fall below 10 kg in 2023 (-1.7%). Because beef is more expensive than other types of meat, consumers will likely search for less expensive animal proteins in an environment of high food inflation.