Impacts of reducing red meat consumption on agricultural production in Finland

Authors

• Heikki Sakari Lehtonen Professor MTT Agrifood Research Finland /Economic Research
• Xavier Irz

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci.8007

Keywords:

Agricultural sector modelling, food demand, demand analysis, greenhouse gas mitigation, agricultural policy

Abstract

This paper summarises the simulated effects on Finnish agricultural production and trade of a 20% decrease in Finnish demand for red meat (beef, pork, lamb). According to our results, reduced red meat consumption would be offset by increased consumption of poultry meat, eggs, dairy products and fish, as well as small increases in consumption of fruits and vegetables, peas, nuts, cereal products and sweets. By including the derived demand changes in an agricultural sector model, we show that livestock production in Finland, incentivised by national production-linked payments for milk and bovine animals, would decrease by much less than 20% due to the complex nature of agricultural production and trade. Overall, assuming unchanged consumer preferences and agricultural policy, a 20% reduction in red meat consumption is not likely to lead to a substantial decrease in livestock production or changed land use, or greenhouse gas emissions, from Finnish agriculture.