Tags: Food animal production, Animal agriculture, Animal ethics, Global standards, Biotechnology

The general objective of this paper is to contribute to the understanding of both the economic issues behind the changing structure of livestock industries, and the likely implications of those changes for food animal agriculture as it will exist in 2020. In this effort I pursue two specific
objectives. First, I summarize the limited amount of data available at this early stage in the trend toward increased use of market power, proposing an explanation for what is driving that trend. My second specific objective is to present the implications of the trends in industry structural changes. Based on a discussion of previous research results, I draw preliminary
inferences on the future of animal agriculture in AmericaBits potential for success as well as the fundamental limitations for livestock producers.

Food Animal Agriculture in 2020.pdf