Department of Animal Science
Date of this Version
December 1997
Abstract
The potential for International Beef Marketing is both a dynamic and exciting agenda. However, it has been tempered by concern for safety of the food supply. We all recognize a growing percentage of United States beef producers income is tied to beef exports. All preliminary figures point to US. Beef Exports for calendar year 1997 will meet or exceed 1996 levels with an impressive $3 billion sales (wholesale value) or 13 percent of the U.S. beef supply.
Export opportunities are growing for the beef industry, not only from population growth but also from a booming growth in disposable income which are on the rise in both developed and non-developed countries. International markets undoubtedly will provide the greatest growth market in which U. S. beef producers have ever witnessed.
After 120 years of food surplus in the world, it appears we are about to move to an era of food scarcity. This shift would be primarily due to affluence in the third world. The GATT has replaced barriers and economic stagnation with global trade and global job creation.
The economies of the first world countries have lately been growing about 2.5 percent annually and most are well fed. The Developing World's economies are growing about twice as fast as First World or 5 percent annually. Whereas Asian economies are growing nearly three times as fast as the First World, setting the global pace for per capita income gains.
Comments
Published for Proceedings, The Range Beef Cow Symposium XV December 9, 10 and 11, 1997, Rapid City, South Dakota.