Pastured Poultry Production: An Evaluation of Its Sustainability in Hawaii
Poultry broiler production in Hawaii declined 30 percent in the past 10 years, a reduction and trend largely due to high production costs associated with land, housing, and imported feeds. In addition to high production costs, many former poultry farmers have retired, and new farmers are not taking their place. This publication describes a new and innovative method of raising poultry that capitalizes on Hawaii’s productive pastures. Two experiments were conducted to test the method by raising broilers on pasture, slaughtering the birds to evaluate carcass weights and feed conversion, and marketing the product. The results suggest that the pastured poultry production system offers potential economic opportunities for agricultural entrepreneurs. However, careful management and proper environmental conditions are vital to the profitability of the system. Demand for poultry broiler products is increasing, due in part to marketing efforts by the national poultry industry. To meet the market demand, inshipments of broilers to Hawaii increased 27 percent between 1987 and 1991 and an average of 3.5 percent in each of the past ten years. The supply of locally grown fresh poultry in the market is limited, although there are established niche markets, for example in local grocery supermarkets where imported range-raised chickens are sold for approximately $8.00 for a 4-pound bird, and in “ethnic” markets where locally produced processed or live birds are sold. Considering the strength of current consumer demands for “Island Fresh” food quality and freshness, the potential market in Hawaii for range-raised poultry is large. Also, with the decline of plantation industries (sugarcane and pineapple) in Hawaii, more land is becoming available for other agricultural uses. If land leases for former plantation lands are reasonable, young entrepreneurs with limited financial resources and credit can enter the farming business.
Low-Input Grassfed Livestock Production in the American West: Case Studies of Ecological, Economic, and Social Resilience
Low-Input Grassfed Livestock Production in the American West: Case Studies of Ecological, Economic, and Social Resilience DOI:10.2458/azu_rangelands_v33i2_barnes
The status of FAO and codex alimentarius developments on vegetable proteins
The FAO is interested in increasing world protein supplies both by advising and assisting developing countries to increase their production of staple foods and by encouraging the development of technology to produce protein concentrates both from vegetable and animal sources to supplement diets which are low in protein content. Recent revisions of the amount of protein required in the diet in relation to total per capita energy requirements and the difficulties encountered in introducing novel foods into established dietary patterns has led FAO to concentrate on increased agricultural productions in developing countries as the primary means of combatting malnutrition. In the meantime, in North America and Europe, advances in the technology of processing vegetable proteins has given highly acceptable products simulating meats which are being used as meat extenders and meat analogues. The consequent increase in vegetable protein production has revealed a need for international, agreement on standardization, and it has been agreed that this will be undertaken by the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards’ Programme. The program operates chiefly through the Codex Alimentarius, Commission, an international governmental body, the purpose of which is to protect consumers against health hazard in food and against fraud. The Commission, which has 116 member governments, controls an intensive program of work covering the composition, labeling, additives, contaminants, pesticide residues, hygiene, sampling and analysis aspects of foods and has established a procedure which allows member governments ample opportunity to reach agreement on food standards and to accept them for incorporation into national legislation. The Codex Commission, at its 12th session, decided to establish a Committee on Vegetable Proteins with the following terms of references: “to elaborate definitions and world-wide standards for vegetable protein products deriving from soybeams, cottonseed, groundnuts, cereals and from other vegetable sources as they come into use for human consumption, and to elaborate guidelines on utilization of such vegetable protein products in the food supply system, on nutritional requirements and safety on labeling and on other aspects as may seem appropriate.” The question of which country will host the Committee is still under discussion.