Articles from Auriga Magasinet No. 2, September 2005
Grain and soybeans – important crops
The developing countries are not self-sufficient in food, and demand in these countries must be met by increasing production in Europe, the USA and South America
Between 1997 and 2020, the need for grain crops in the developing countries will increase by 50 per cent. The increasing need covers feedstuffs for livestock as the demand for meat will increase in step with higher living standards. The demand for grain crops for feeding animals is expected to increase by 2.5 per cent per year up until 2020. A particularly dramatic increase will be seen in the demand for maize, which will increase by 2.9 per cent per year. In 2020, the demand for maize in the developing countries will exceed the total demand for rice and wheat. In most developing countries, production will however not be able to keep up with population growth.
Global production by crops
Of the harvested volumes of crops (tonnage), the four grain crops maize,
rice, wheat and barley account for more than one third. The group of
other crops includes sugar, rye, oats, cotton etc.
Grain – imports and exports
The developing African countries north of the Sahara are expected to account for the highest imports of grain crops totalling approx. 73 million tonnes. In 2020, China will also have considerable imports of 48 million tonnes of grain crops alone from the USA and the EU, representing a considerable increase from 8 million tonnes in 1997.
The demand for grain crops will primarily be covered by the industrialised countries which will see an increasing surplus production in the period up until 2020. US exports of grain crops will increase from 77 million tonnes in 1997 to 120 million tonnes in 2020. In the same period, EU exports will increase from 20 to 29 million tonnes.
Soybeans – imports and exports
Like grain crops, soya is also of major agricultural significance. Oil is extracted from the protein-rich soybeans and used in many foods.
Up until 1994, China was a net exporter of soybeans, but despite an increase in soybean production, the country has seen a hike in imports of soybeans from 1997 to 2004. Chinese consumption of soybeans reached almost 35 million tonnes in 2004. Apart from China, the EU is also a major importer of soya.
USA is the world’s largest producer of soybeans, accounting for almost 50 per cent of China’s imports in 2004. South America has in recent years undergone a dramatic development in the production of soybeans. In Brazil, production has doubled, and in Argentina, it tripled between 1997 and 2004. Both countries are large exporters of soya.
Examples of the many uses of soybeans
Oil:
Cooking oil, margarine, fats for foods and sweets.
Fuel, lubricants, paints, lino, soap and cosmetics.
Soybean cake/soy flour:
Animal feed (for cattle, pigs, poultry, fish and pets), food products, glue, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products.
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