Examining opportunities, challenges in exporting more meat to Africa

Of the $5 billion of U.S. beef exported around the world through May of this year, only $8 million has been to Africa. But Africa is a very promising destination for beef variety meats, a low-cost protein that helps meet Africa’s nutritional needs. There is also growing interest in higher-end beef cuts that draw interest from Africa’s growing middle class.Matt Copeland, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) representative in Africa, says that a growing population, an expanding need for affordable protein, an explosion in western-style retail outlets and some softening in regulatory barriers signal the region is a potential growth market for U.S. red meat. In this episode Copeland explains how USMEF, with support from USDA and the Beef Checkoff Program, is laying the groundwork with importers, retailers and suppliers to expand U.S. red meat sales in the region.You can read more of our coverage of global meat trade in the pages of Feedstuffs; you can find the July issue now by visiting Feedstuffs.com and clicking on “Digital Editions.”This episode is sponsored by United Animal Health, a leader in animal health and nutrition. You can learn more about United Animal Health and how they are working to advance animal science worldwide by visiting their website UnitedANH.com.