Market Trends of Australia Forage Seed Industry
Growing Demand of Meat and its Products
The Australian food economy is being increasingly driven by the shift in diet and food consumption patterns towards livestock products. The demand for meat is expected to grow faster in Australia with sustained economic growth, rising per capita income, strengthening urbanization trends and increasing awareness of the nutritive value of meat and meat products. According to UN FAO, by 2020, the demand for meat and eggs together constitute 8 million tonnes.
Forage seeds are used by millers, dairy farmers, and forage farmers for high-yielding crops. These seeds are produced as per the species and variety of crops to be grown. Generally, these seeds are utilized for beef feed production that is in high demand and to a greater extent for dairy animals. The Australian forage seed production market mainly consists of alfalfa and clover seeds.
Increasing Demand For The Quality Feed
In the future, production is anticipated to be increasingly affected by competition for natural resources, particularly land and water, and competition between food and feed. Developments in breeding, nutrition, and animal health will continue to contribute to the increasing potential for efficient production of animals. The growth in livestock production is likely to create a demand for better forage crops, as people are exceedingly concerned about the quality of meat they consume. The growth in the demand for forage crops can only be supported with better quality forage seeds. Growing consumer preference for organic food and feed products, rise in breed cattle demand for feed, mounting population and the shrinkage of land for grazing animals.