Meat supply chain in the perspective of UN SDGs

I V Djekic

doi:10.21323/2414-438x-2021-6-3-242-247

Abstract

This paper presents an overview of the meat supply chain in the perspective of main UN sustainable development goals (SDGs). To perform this overview, meat supply chain was presented with five main stakeholders (livestock farmers, slaughterhouses, meat processors, retailers and consumers). As this chain is specific, four SDGs have been revealed as most important, as follows: SDG6 — Clean water and sanitation; SDG7 — Affordable and clean energy; SDG12 — Sustainable consumption and production; SDG13 — Climate action. Discussion and literature review was performed for each of the four UN SDGs. In addition, other UN SDGs of interest for this supply chain have been briefly presented.

Highlights

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) comprise of 17 goals deployed into 169 targets and 232 indicators that aim to strive the World to a more sustainable future
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has identified eight UN sustainable development goals (SDGs) that are directly associated with food systems, as follows: SDG1 — No Poverty; SDG2 — Zero Hunger; SDG6 — Clean water and sanitation; SDG7 — Affordable and clean energy; SDG12 — Sustainable consumption and production; SDG13 — Climate action; SDG14 — Life below water and SDG15 — Life on land [4]
SDG6 — Clean water and sanitation and the meat supply chain The need for clean, accessible water is one of the UN SDGs since the world is striving for sufficient fresh water opposed to water scarcity, poor water quality and inadequate sanitation that has a negative severe impact on food security throughout any food supply chain [12]

Summary

Introduction

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) comprise of 17 goals deployed into 169 targets and 232 indicators that aim to strive the World to a more sustainable future They were defined by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 by leaders of almost 200 countries [1]. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has identified eight (out of 17) UN SDGs that are directly associated with food systems, as follows: SDG1 — No Poverty; SDG2 — Zero Hunger; SDG6 — Clean water and sanitation; SDG7 — Affordable and clean energy; SDG12 — Sustainable consumption and production; SDG13 — Climate action; SDG14 — Life below water and SDG15 — Life on land [4]. Other nine UN SDGs are indirectly related to food systems When it comes to meat and meat supply chains, many studies identify this sector as one of main environmental polluters in the food system [5]. This chain consists of five main links: (i) livestock farms (ii) slaughterhouses (iii) meat processing plants (iv) customers / retail and (v) meat consumers / households [8]

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Conclusion