2 December 2014

2 minute read

Asia

ABARES Executive Director, Karen Schneider, released the figures today in a new report, What India wants: Analysis of India’s food demand to 2050.

“This report assesses future trends in Indian food consumption, production and trade in one of the fastest growing economies in the world,” Ms Schneider said.

“Increasing income levels in India have led to a diversification of diets, with rising per person consumption of dairy products, fruit and vegetables.

“Combined with a population growth rate that is one of the highest in Asia, that means food demand will increase significantly.”

Under current agricultural policies in India, consumption growth between 2009 and 2050 is strongest for fruit (246 per cent), vegetables (183 per cent) and dairy products (137 per cent), which together account for 77 per cent of the total projected rise in food consumption by 2050.

“While the demand for food has largely been met by domestically produced products to date, food imports have also risen. For many commodities imports will continue to rise over the coming decades,” Ms Schneider said.

“India's growth in agrifood imports toward 2050 is predominantly driven by vegetables, which are projected to reach US$47 billion by 2050, in 2009 US dollars.

“Fruit imports are projected to reach US$58 billion by 2050, with dairy products at US$13 billion and wheat US$15 billion also expected to rise significantly.”

What India wants is part of the What Asia wants series, which analyses future food consumption and trade trends in Asian countries over the long term.

Further Reading

You can view the full ABARES report by clicking here.

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