Africa: The livestock revolution urbanizes

Population growth, rising income and urbanization have fueled a significant increase in demand for animal products in developing countries since the early 1970s. The phenomenon, dubbed as the Livestock Revolution, is anticipated to slow down in the coming decades, except in Africa where the Revolution is expected to continue and urbanize. This paper examines the urbanization of the Livestock Revolution in Africa. It estimates that in 2050 almost 70% of total meat and milk consumption will likely come from cities, with urban dwellers demanding, compared to today, 28 and 47 additional million metric tons of meat and milk, respectively. The consequent transformations of the livestock value chain serving urban and peri-urban areas may pose unprecedented public health and environmental challenges to policy-makers.