ИСТИНА

Within the past decades, we observe the growth of the meat production both in developed and developing countries. World meat production in 2010-2018 increased by 16% from 286 million tons to 331 million tons, according to the data of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). During this period, the poultry meat production has demonstrated the most intensive increase – by 24% (pig meat production – by 12%, beef and veal production – by 9%, sheepmeat production – by 13%). Consumption of poultry meat increases regardless of region or their income level. But per capita consumption growth rates will remain higher in developing countries. In many countries, the poultry industry is the only livestock sector that has managed to be successfully adapted to the market economy conditions. The governments of many developed countries strongly supported the industry during this period. The growth of the poultry meat production was ensured not only by the increase in poultry population, but also by the transfer of the industry to an intensive industrial basis. Success of the poultry industry is a fundamentally new and to some extent an unexpected trend in the world agriculture. It can be called a «poultry-farming revolution». The aim of this article is to evaluate the influence of the poultry industry on world food supply. Structural changes in global meat market are analyzed based on recent FAO statistical databases with special attention to geographic concentration or relocation of production and trade across major geographical zones. The findings indicate some possible shifts in export and import structure of meat in near future.