Study projects future of dairy industry for next 50 years
Dairy production will shift to areas with more sustainable water supplies and adequate growing seasons in response to changes in climate.
In the future, global food production systems will come under increased pressure from population growth, urbanization and climate change, according to a new review published in the Journal of Dairy Science. Over the last two years, scientists from the United States, the United Kingdom and Sweden examined projections and current data to identify ways in which the dairy industry may respond to industry challenges. This study projects how dairy producers will meet challenges and take advantage of opportunities in 2067 and beyond.
Global population is expected to increase from 7.6 to 10.5 billion people by 2067, while arable land per capita will decrease by 25%. Because population growth will be uneven, disparity in arable land per capita is also expected to increase. With increased population density comes increased urbanization, which leads to greater personal income and greater demand for dairy products. It is also expected that climate change will force changes in the location of dairy production. In the Northern Hemisphere, where 86% of the world’s milk is produced, the effects of climate change are less tempered by oceanic effects. Dairy production will shift to areas with more sustainable water supplies and adequate growing seasons in response to changes in climate.