Trends
Halal certified food is on the upswing
The demand for religious or ideologically prepared food products is nothing new. However in the past, significant changes in the respective market segments – in particular for organic, vegetarian, kosher and Halal certified products – could be observed. As can be seen from the table, more than 4.6 million Muslims live in the so called D-A-CH countries (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland). Within the EU there are 16 million Muslims and throughout all of Europe approximately 54 million. Even though not all Muslims interpret the Halal requirements in the same way and not all Muslims follow these rules strictly, the significance of the Halal market is obvious. This is also true for the international markets because there are currently approximately 1.6 billion Muslim consumers in the world and this is also the strongest growing population group with an annual growth rate of approximately 1.84%. The value of the global Halal market is estimated to 635bn USD; for Germany this value is about 4bn Euros with most of it being generated in the market for meat and meat products.
World Grain Production Down, But Recovering
World grain production fell, exacerbating a global food situation already plagued by rising prices, according to new research published by the Worldwatch Institute for its Vital Signs Online publication. Despite record rice and maize yields around the world, global wheat production dropped substantially enough to bring total grain output to just below 2008 levels. Maize, wheat, and rice provide nearly two-thirds of the global human diet and serve as critical inputs for both animal feed and industrial products. The significance of these crops guarantees that a decline in production will produce ripple effects throughout the global economy, particularly as increased food prices continue to take a toll on the world's neediest populations. Overall, rice and wheat production have tripled since the 1960s, and maize production has quadrupled, despite global acreage of these crops increasing by only 35 percent.
U.S.A: As Global Population Surpasses 7 Billion, Two Clear Strategies for a Sustainable Future
As the global population surpasses 7 billion people sometime around the end of October, addressing the challenges associated with a still-growing world population will require a two-pronged response, according to experts with the Worldwatch Institute. The combined measures of empowering women to make their own decisions about childbearing and significantly reducing global consumption of energy and natural resources would move humanity toward rather than further away from environmentally sustainable societies that meet human needs.
U.S.A: As Global Population Surpasses 7 Billion, Two Clear Strategies for a Sustainable Future
As the global population surpasses 7 billion people sometime around the end of October, addressing the challenges associated with a still-growing world population will require a two-pronged response, according to experts with the Worldwatch Institute. The combined measures of empowering women to make their own decisions about childbearing and significantly reducing global consumption of energy and natural resources would move humanity toward rather than further away from environmentally sustainable societies that meet human needs. Roughly 4.5 billion people have been added to the world population in just the last 60 years, according to United Nations estimates, putting increased strain on the world's ecosystems and resources. Because humans interact with their surroundings far more intensely than any other species and use vast amounts of carbon, nitrogen, water, and other resources, we are on track not only to change the global climate and deplete essential energy and other natural resources, but to wipe out thousands of plant and animal species in the coming decades. To some extent, these outcomes are now unavoidable; we'll have to adapt to them. But in order to improve the likelihood they will not be catastrophic, we need to simultaneously work to influence the future path of population and to address the environmental and social impacts that continued population growth will have.
Slaughter without stunning
Two major welfare problems can occur during slaughter without stunning. They are a prolonged period where the bovine remains sensible and aspiration of blood into the trachea (windpipe) and respiratory tract. Blood entering the respiratory tract is a welfare concern because the sensation caused by blood entering the respiratory system is likely to be very distressful.
AUSTRALIA: It’s time for the RSPCA to get real
There aren't too many cattle loaded onto boats from the western Queensland district of Mitchell, but that was no deterrent to AgForce cattle president, Grant Maudsley, who delivered a spirited defence of the live export trade at the recent RSPCA forum. As the last speaker of the day, Mr Maudsley sat through hours of presentations denouncing the trade. He acknowledged RSPCA's charter to protect animals, but called on those in the forum to reconsider their position and protect the livelihoods of Australian families in the far north.
U.S.A: Global Meat Production and Consumption Continue to Rise
Global meat production and consumption have increased rapidly in recent decades, with harmful effects on the environment and public health as well as on the economy, according to research done by Worldwatch Institute's Nourishing the Planet project for Vital Signs Online. Worldwide meat production has tripled over the last four decades and increased 20 percent in just the last 10 years. Meanwhile, industrial countries are consuming growing amounts of meat, nearly double the quantity than in developing countries.
PHILIPPINES: Filipino Muslims Find Eating Space
For the five million or so Filipino Muslims, their homeland is a gastronomic challenge. Given the country’s predominantly Catholic population and the heavy influence of Chinese and American cuisines, much of the country’s dishes include pork, which Muslims cannot consume. Exacerbating the situation is the fact that most food establishments, even those located in urban centres, have limited or no knowledge of the Halal standards to be observed in food preparation. Regrettably, not a lot of Filipinos are aware of these Islamic tenets and standards. Even in areas with significant Muslim populations, finding food establishments that serve Halal certified foods can be a daunting task. This is true even in major cities.
USA: Tapping a growing Halal market
Investors with an eye on the Islamic world have witnessed parallel growth in two industries serving Muslims worldwide: Halal products and Islamic finance. Halal — Arabic for “allowed” — signifies a product created in adherence with Islamic guidelines. Halal products are spread across several industries, including foodstuffs, cosmetics, fashion and health care. Islamic finance is banking that follows Muslim precepts, such as the banning of interest on savings and loans. Intended to serve more than one billion Muslims across the world, both markets boast compelling figures. Global Islamic finance is now considered to be a nearly USD1 trillion industry, while as of last year, the worldwide Halal market was worth an estimated USD630 billion. That includes Europe and North America, which account for 12% of the global Halal market. The growth of these industries has spurred some investors to develop new financial products that combine bits of both, including Halal food indices and equity funds.
USA: Iowa Muslims say backlash is real and hurtful
Following 9/11, long-standing relationships eased unwarranted backlash for Muslims in Iowa, but the same hasn’t held true elsewhere, members of the Islamic community say. “Prior to 9/11, Islam was never viewed as a threat,” said Bill Aossey, 69, of Cedar Rapids, president of Midamar Corp. “Why, after Sept. 11, because of the acts of a few individuals, has the administration demonized a billion and a half people around the world?” Aossey points to doctors, teachers and Rockwell engineers among the many Muslims in Cedar Rapids, where the Islamic community dates back to the 19th century. The Mother Mosque of America — believed to be the oldest mosque in North America — was completed in 1934 at 1335 Ninth St. NW. “The history of Islam in Cedar Rapids is well-established,” Aossey said, adding that national media and the previous presidential administration painted Muslims with an adversarial stereotype. While Cedar Rapids remains an open and welcoming community, Aossey said, he cited failed efforts to start a Muslim youth camp at nearby Coralville Lake as fallout from the stereotyping. Aossey said restrictions placed on the project after the national backlash made it difficult to build the camp as a place where children could play and learn.