Commentary: What will drive the future of animal agriculture

It is the "popularity of the kinds of items that alternative channels go after: organic, natural, grass-fed, antibiotic-free," that will drive the future of animal agriculture.  Anne-Marie Roerink, principal of 210 Analytics LLC, said this at the North American Meat Association’s Annual Meat Conference:“I think the tipping point is actually the popularity of the kinds of items that these alternative channels go after: organic, natural, grass-fed, antibiotic-free. What is happening is that traditional supermarkets don’t have the assortment. That’s where the alternative channels survive. They’ve definitely moved from picking at a meat purchase here and there to truly becoming a red flag for traditional retailers.” It’s that damn tipping point that gets them every time. It’s usually a generational thing, of course. What us older folk consider sacred, what we see as comfort foods and the things necessary for making a good meal is not what our children and grandchildren see. They have an annoying habit of making up their minds as to what’s healthy, good to eat and what they want on their dinner plates. So you want to do things the way they’ve always been done? Good luck with that. Your market is disappearing, on its way to meet the grim reaper. The new market looks at food and how it’s presented with a far different eye.