Resource consumption - China's changing diet

Question 1

What country has the world’s largest middle class population?

Answer 1

China

Question 2

How much more does the population spend now, after the middle class grew?

Answer 2

2.5x

Question 3

What does China consume more than in any other country?

Answer 3

Meat

Question 4

What change in diet was observed between 1992-2021

Answer 4

Grain-based diet → Meat

Question 5

What is the increase in meat consumption associated with?

Answer 5

Health problems, due to food-borne medical expenditure

Question 6

How many kg of meat does the average Chinese person consume in a year (today)?

Answer 6

63kg

Question 7

How much did the average meat consumption increase by since 1978?

Answer 7

6x

Question 8

How much is the issue of obesity costing the country per year? How much of the GDP is that?

Answer 8

$93B / year - 1.1% of GDP

Question 9

How much is the obesity rate expected to rise to by 2030 if left unchecked?

Answer 9

25% (2030)

Question 10

How many % of food produced in China goes to waste? How many people could that feed?

Answer 10

34% of food - 500M people

Question 11

What is the proposed strategy to fight this issue? When did this plan begin?

Answer 11

Circular economy strategy (1990s)

Question 12

What are the 3 components of the plan?

Answer 12

1) regenerate soil with urban food waste & waste water
2) optimize food storage, transport & processing
3) reinforce food consumption habits that are beneficial to health & environment

Question 13

What is one big aspect of the culture responsible for food waste? How many % of total food waste does it account for?

Answer 13

“Banquet culture” - responsible for 30-40% of total food waste