Are We Approaching Peak Meat Consumption? Analysis of Meat Consumption from 2000 to 2019 in 35 Countries and Its Relationship to Gross Domestic Product

Simple Summary

Meat production has been associated with environmental degradation, yet at the same time many countries are increasing their consumption. We analyzed which countries are increasing and which decreasing their consumption of all the major meats consumed over a period from 2000 to 2019. There is evidence of peak meat consumption having been reached in several countries, but also evidence of continued consumption increases in many of the emerging-economy countries, probably due to greater affordability. We also found evidence of this when we attempted to link Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita to meat consumption per capita. In many emerging-economy countries, there was a direct link over the years studied, but in the higher income countries there was no relationship. We discuss how this observed dichotomous relationship will shape future trends in meat consumption.

Abstract

Growing prosperity, but also disease outbreaks, natural disasters, and consumer preferences are changing global meat consumption. We investigated the 2000–2019 trends in 35 countries monitored by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. We also tested relationships with Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Several countries appeared to be reaching peak consumption of some meats, and three (New Zealand, Canada, and Switzerland) have reached this. Poultry consumption increased over time in most countries, and beef and mutton/lamb consumption decreased in many. Using cluster analysis, we divided countries into two clusters: one in which increases in GDP per capita matched increases in meat consumption; and a second one of nine countries, for which there was no association between per capita change in GDP and meat consumption. There was evidence of a tipping point around USD 40,000 of GDP per capita, after which increases in economic well-being do not lead to increased meat consumption.

Vitamin D Deficiency and Insufficiency in Hospitalized COPD Patients

Introduction

31–77% of patients with COPD have vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency, with results being highly variable between studies. Vitamin D may also correlate with disease characteristics.

Aim

To find out the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in patients with COPD admitted for exacerbation and a risk factors for lower vitamin D levels among comorbidities and COPD characteristics.

Methods

152 patients were studied for vitamin D serum levels (25(OH)D). All of them were also assessed for diabetes mellitus (DM) and metabolic syndrome (MS). Data were gathered also for smoking status and exacerbations in last year. All patients completed CAT and mMRC questionnaires and underwent spirometry.

Results

A total of 83,6% of patients have reduced levels of vitamin D. 42,8% (65/152) have vitamin D insufficiency (defined as 25–50 nmol/L) and 40,8% (62/152) have vitamin D deficiency (<25 nmol/L). The mean level of 25(OH)D for all patients is 31,97 nmol/L (95%CI 29,12–34,68). Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are more prevalent in females vs. males (97,7 vs 77,8%; p = 0.003). The prevalence and severity of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in this study is significantly higher when compared to an unselected Bulgarian population (prevalence 75,8%; mean level 38,75 nmol/L). Vitamin D levels correlate with quality of life (measured by the mMRC scale) and lung function (FVC, FEV1, FEV6, FEF2575, FEV3, but not with FEV1/FVC ratio and PEF), it does not correlate with the presence of arterial hypertension, DM, MS and number of moderate, severe and total exacerbations. Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for longer hospital stay.

Conclusions

The patients with COPD admitted for exacerbation are a risk group for vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency, which is associated with worse disease characteristics.

Cultured Meat and Australia's Generation Z

This exploratory study of Gen Z consumers (n = 227) examines perceptions and opinions about cultured meat of young adults residing in Sydney, Australia. It uses an online survey and describes the findings quantitatively and through the words of the study participants. The results show that the majority (72%) of the participants are not ready to accept cultured meat; nonetheless, many think that it is a viable idea because of the need to transition to more sustainable food options and improve animal welfare. When faced with a choice between different alternatives to farmed meat, a third of the participants reject cultured meat and edible insects but accept plant-based substitutes finding them more natural. Concerns about masculinity and betraying Australia as a country of quality animal meat are also raised. A significant number of young people (28%) however are prepared to try cultured meat. Environmental and health concerns may influence a broader section of society to embrace this novelty. With its power as the emerging new consumers, Gen Z is putting the future of cultured meat under scrutiny.

Qualitative protocol for understanding the contribution of Australian policy in the urban planning, justice, energy and environment sectors to promoting health and health equity

INTRODUCTION

A well-established body of literature demonstrates that health and equity are strongly influenced by the consequences of governments' policy and resultant actions (or inactions) outside the health sector. Consequently, the United Nations, and its agency the WHO, have called for national leadership and whole-of-government action to understand and address the health impacts of policies in all sectors. This research responds to that call by investigating how policymaking in four sectors-urban planning, justice, energy and environment-may influence the social determinants of health and health equity (SDH/HE).

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The research design is informed by a critical qualitative approach. Three successive stages are included in the design. The first involves analysing all strategic policy documents and selected legislative documents from the four sectors (n=583). The document analysis is based on a coding framework developed to identify alignment between the documents and the SDH/HE. Two policies that demonstrate good practice in regard to SDH/HE will be selected from each sector during the second stage for embedded case study analysis (total n=8). This is intended to illuminate which factors have supported recognition and action on SDH/HE in the selected policies. The third stage involves progressive theoretical integration and development to understand political and institutional facilitators and barriers to action on SDH/HE, both within and between sectors.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The research will provide much needed evidence about how coherent whole-of-government action on SDH/HE can be advanced and contribute knowledge about how health-enhancing policy activity in the four sectors may be optimised. Learnings from the research will be shared via a project advisory group, policy briefings, academic papers, conference presentations and research symposia. Ethics approval has been secured for the embedded case studies, which involve research participants.

Exploratory innovation, exploitative innovation and employee creativity

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between exploratory/exploitative innovation and employee creativity in the Chinese context and how these two relationships can be moderated by an important cultural dimension – collectivism.

Design/methodology/approach

A theoretical framework was developed to explore the relationships between exploratory/exploitative innovation, employee creativity and collectivism. Data were collected by sending out surveys to managers and employees in various industries in mainland China. Hypotheses were tested using hierarchical regressions.

Findings

The results show that both exploratory innovation and exploitative innovation are positively related to employee creativity. Furthermore, collectivism negatively moderates the effects of both types of innovation on employee creativity, despite its positive main effect.

Originality/value

This study explores the relationship between organizational innovation and individual employee creativity in the Chinese context. This paper empirically analyzes the moderating effect of collectivism in the relationship between organizational innovation and employee creativity. It also indicates the factors inherent in Chinese culture that influence innovation and gives explanations from education, subordinate relation, etc.

New Meat Without Livestock

This chapter summarizes the global problems associated with livestock production and meat consumption and shows solution strategies through replacing animal products with plant-based alternatives. The positive effects of plant-based alternatives on human health and the environment are reviewed together with approaches for reducing world hunger. Psychological strategies for nutritional transitions towards more sustainable consumption patterns and criteria for market success of meat alternatives are presented. This is followed by an overview of meat alternatives – from soy1, lupine or wheat based, to bleeding burgers and artificial intelligence concepts. Marketing strategies and best practice policy suggestions complete the chapter.

Evaluating Pillar Industry's Transformation Capability: A Case Study of Two Chinese Steel-Based Cities

Many steel-based cities in China were established between the 1950s and 1960s. After more than half a century of development and boom, these cities are starting to decline and industrial transformation is urgently needed. This paper focuses on evaluating the transformation capability of resource-based cities building an evaluation model. Using Text Mining and the Document Explorer technique as a way of extracting text features, the 200 most frequently used words are derived from 100 publications related to steel- and other resource-based cities. The Expert Evaluation Method (EEM) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) techniques are then applied to select 53 indicators, determine their weights and establish an index system for evaluating the transformation capability of the pillar industry of China's steel-based cities. Using real data and expert reviews, the improved Fuzzy Relation Matrix (FRM) method is applied to two case studies in China, namely Panzhihua and Daye, and the evaluation model is developed using Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation (FCE). The cities' abilities to carry out industrial transformation are evaluated with concerns expressed for the case of Daye. The findings have policy implications for the potential and required industrial transformation in the two selected cities and other resource-based towns.

Timing crisis information release via television

When and how often to release information on television are important issues in crisis and emergency risk communication. There is a lot of crisis information, including warnings and news, to which people should have access, but most of it is not significantly urgent to interrupt the broadcasting of television programmes. Hence, the right timing for the release of crisis information should be selected based on the importance of the crisis and any associated communication requirements. Using recursive methods, this paper builds an audience coverage model of crisis information release. Based on 2007 Household Using TV (HUT) data for Hefei City, China, the optimal combination of broadcasting sequence (with frequencies between one and eight times) is obtained using the implicit enumeration method. The developed model is applicable to effective transmission of crisis information, with the aim of reducing interference with the normal television transmission process and decreasing the psychological effect on audiences. The same model can be employed for other purposes, such as news coverage and weather and road information.

One-year mortality after severe COPD exacerbation in Bulgaria

Introduction

One-year mortality in COPD patients is reported to be between 4% and 43%, depending on the group examined.

Aim

To examine the one-year mortality in COPD patients after severe exacerbation and the correlation between mortality and patients’ characteristics and comorbidities.

Methods

A total of 152 COPD patients hospitalized for severe exacerbation were assessed for vitamin D status, diabetes mellitus (DM), arterial hypertension (AH), and metabolic syndrome (MS). Data were gathered about smoking status and number of exacerbations in previous year. CAT and mMRC questionnaires were completed by all patients. Pre- and post-bronchodilatory spirometry was performed. One-year mortality was established from national death register.

Results

One-year mortality is 7.2%. DM, MS, and VD are not predictors for one-year mortality. However there is a trend for increased mortality in patients with AH (9.5% vs. 2.1%, p = 0.107). There is increased mortality in patients with mMRC > 2 (11.1 vs. 0%, p = 0.013). The presence of severe exacerbation in the previous year is a risk factor for mortality (12.5% vs. 1.4%, p = 0.009). There is a trend for increased mortality in the group with FEV1 < 50% (11.5 vs. 4.4%, p = 0.094). Cox regression shows 3.7% increase in mortality rate for 1% decrease in FEV1, 5.2% for 1% decrease in PEF, 7.8% for one year age increase and 8.1% for 1 CAT point increase (all p < 0.05).

Conclusions

This study finds relatively low one-year mortality in COPD patients after surviving severe exacerbation. Grade C and FEV1 > 80% may be factors for good prognosis. Risk factors for increased mortality are age, FEV1 value, severe exacerbation in previous year and reduced quality of life.

High-quality permanent draft genome sequence of the Bradyrhizobium elkanii type strain USDA 76T, isolated from Glycine max (L.) Merr

Bradyrhizobium elkanii USDA 76^T (INSCD = ARAG00000000), the type strain for Bradyrhizobium elkanii, is an aerobic, motile, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming rod that was isolated from an effective nitrogen-fixing root nodule of Glycine max (L. Merr) grown in the USA. Because of its significance as a microsymbiont of this economically important legume, B. elkanii USDA 76^T was selected as part of the DOE Joint Genome Institute 2010 Genomic Encyclopedia for Bacteria and Archaea-Root Nodule Bacteria sequencing project. Here the symbiotic abilities of B. elkanii USDA 76^T are described, together with its genome sequence information and annotation. The 9,484,767 bp high-quality draft genome is arranged in 2 scaffolds of 25 contigs, containing 9060 protein-coding genes and 91 RNA-only encoding genes. The B. elkanii USDA 76^T genome contains a low GC content region with symbiotic nod and fix genes, indicating the presence of a symbiotic island integration. A comparison of five B. elkanii genomes that formed a clique revealed that 356 of the 9060 protein coding genes of USDA 76^T were unique, including 22 genes of an intact resident prophage. A conserved set of 7556 genes were also identified for this species, including genes encoding a general secretion pathway as well as type II, III, IV and VI secretion system proteins. The type III secretion system has previously been characterized as a host determinant for Rj and/or rj soybean cultivars. Here we show that the USDA 76^T genome contains genes encoding all the type III secretion system components, including a translocon complex protein NopX required for the introduction of effector proteins into host cells. While many bradyrhizobial strains are unable to nodulate the soybean cultivar Clark (rj1), USDA 76^T was able to elicit nodules on Clark (rj1), although in reduced numbers, when plants were grown in Leonard jars containing sand or vermiculite. In these conditions, we postulate that the presence of NopX allows USDA 76^T to introduce various effector molecules into this host to enable nodulation.

What Is More Important

The unnecessary question what a man is without his masculinity, is deeply ingrained into the socially established norms of strength, power, virility and machoism. Although the traditional male masculinity stereotype and its association with meat consumption are still undisputable for many “real” men, there is indication about a shift toward a new modern evolutionary masculinity which reflects more sustainability values. The chapter explores this based on a survey of Sydney men. It reveals the influence of new factors, such as environmental, health and animal welfare concerns, which shape the concept of the masculine. Meat-eating men will experience increasing pressure to defend their traditional masculinity. The Sydney study also explores the factors likely to influence Australian men to replace a meat-centred diet with more plant-based alternatives.

Metabolic syndrome in hospitalized patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Introduction. The metabolic syndrome (MS) affects 21-53% of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with a higher prevalence in the early stages of COPD, with results being highly variable between studies. MS may also affect natural course of COPD-number of exacerbations, quality of life and lung function. Aim. To examine the prevalence of MS and its correlation with comorbidities and COPD characteristics in patients with COPD admitted for exacerbation. Material and methods. 152 patients with COPD admitted for exacerbation were studied for presence of MS. All of them were also assessed for vitamin D status and diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM). Data were gathered for smoking status and exacerbations during the last year. All patients completed CAT (COPD assessment test) and mMRC (Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea scale) questionnaires and underwent spirometry. Duration of current hospital stay was recorded. Results. 25% of patients have MS. 23.1% of the male and 29.5% of the female patients have MS (p > 0.05). The prevalence of MS in this study is significantly lower when compared to a national representative study (44.6% in subjects over 45 years). 69.1% of all patients and 97.4% from MS patients have arterial hypertension. The presence of MS is associated with significantly worse cough and sleep (1st and 7th CAT questions; p = 0.002 and p = 0.001 respectively) and higher total CAT score (p = 0.017). Average BMI is 27.31. None of the patients have MS and BMI <25. There is a correlation between the presence of MS and DM (p = 0.008) and with the number of exacerbations in the last year (p = 0.015). There is no correlation between the presence of MS and the pulmonary function. Conclusion. This study among hospitalized COPD patients finds comparable but relatively low prevalence of MS (25%) compared to previously published data (21-53%) and lower prevalence compared to general population (44.6%). MS may impact quality of life and the number of exacerbations of COPD. Having in mind that MS is more common in the early stages and decreases with COPD progression, the COPD patients admitted for exacerbation may be considered as having advanced COPD.

Modeling pollution control and performance in China's provinces

The paper constructs a pollution control performance (PCP) evaluation model by introducing the norm of n-dimensional space. The PCP of 30 Chinese provinces for the period of 2003-2008 is evaluated based on the model and the factors influencing China's pollution control are further examined. It is found that: (1) China's PCP has improved rapidly but there is a large regional imbalance with the PCP of Eastern China being much better than that of Central and Western China; (2) to improve the level of China's PCP, government policies should consider industrial structure adjustment, restricting industry entries and increased investment in pollution abatement and R&D.

Infrared spectroscopic study of SO₄²⁻ ions included in M'₂M''(SeO₄)₂⋅6H₂O (Me'=K, NH₄⁺; M''=Mg, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) and NH₄⁺ ions included in K₂M(XO₄)₂⋅6H₂O (X=S, Se; M''=Mg, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn)

Infrared spectra of Tutton compounds, M'₂M''(SeO₄)₂⋅6H₂O (M'=K, NH₄⁺; M''=Mg, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn; X=S, Se), as well as those of SO₄²⁻ guest ions included in selenate host lattices and of NH4(+) guest ions included in potassium host lattices are presented and discussed in the regions of ν₃ and ν₁ of SO₄²⁻ guest ions, ν₄ of NH₄⁺ guest ions and water librations. The SO₄²⁻ guest ions matrix-isolated in selenate matrices (approximately 2 mol%) exhibit three bands corresponding to ν₃ and one band corresponding to ν₁ in good agreement with the low site symmetry C₁ of the host selenate ions. When the larger SO₄²⁻ ions are replaced by the smaller SO₄²⁻ ions the mean values of the asymmetric stretching modes ν₃ of the included SO₄²⁻ ions are slightly shifted to lower frequencies as compared to those of the same ions in the neat sulfate compounds due to the smaller repulsion potential of the selenate matrices (larger unit-cell volumes of the selenates). It has been established that the extent of energetic distortion of the sulfate ions matrix-isolated in the ammonium selenates as deduced from the values of Δν₃ and Δν₃/νc is stronger than that of the same ions matrix-isolated in the potassium selenates due to the formation of hydrogen bonds between the SO₄²⁻ guest ions with both the water molecules in the host compounds and the NH₄⁺ host ions (for example, Δν₃ of the sulfate guest ions have values of 30 and 51 cm(-1) in the nickel potassium and ammonium compounds, and 33 and 49 cm(-1) in the zinc potassium and ammonium compounds, respectively). The infrared spectra of ammonium doped potassium sulfate matrices show three bands corresponding to Δν₄ of the included ammonium ions in agreement with the low site symmetry C₁ of the host potassium ions. However, the inclusion of ammonium ions in selenate matrices (with exception of the magnesium compound) leads to the appearance of four bands in the region of ν₄. At that stage of our knowledge we assume that some kind of disorder of the ammonium ions included in selenate lattices occurs due to the different proton acceptor capability of the SO₄²⁻ and SO₄²⁻ ions. The latter ions are known to exhibit stronger proton acceptor abilities. This fact will facilitate the formation of polyfurcate hydrogen bonds of the ammonium ions in the selenate matrices, thus leading to increasing in the coordination number of these ions, i.e. to a disorder of the ammonium guest ions. The strength of the hydrogen bonds formed in the title Tutton compounds as well as that of the hydrogen bonds in potassium compounds containing isomorphously included ammonium ions as deduced from the wavenumbers of the water librations are also discussed. The bands corresponding to water librations in the spectra of the mixed crystals K₁.₈(NH₄)₀.₂M(XO₄)₂⋅6H₂O (M=Mg, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn; X=S, Se) broaden and shift to lower frequencies as compared to those of the potassium host compounds, thus indicating that weaker hydrogen bonds are formed in the mixed crystals. These spectroscopic findings are owing to the decrease in the proton acceptor capacity of the SO₄²⁻ and SO₄²⁻ ions due to the formation of hydrogen bonds between the host anions and the guest ammonium cations additionally to water molecules (anti-cooperative or proton acceptor competitive effect). Furthermore, the band shifts in the spectra of the selenate matrices are generally larger than those observed in the spectra of the respective sulfates due to the stronger proton acceptor ability of the selenate ions.