外刊学习：全球肉类消费增长，喜提惊人好处

今日导读

吃肉，是一件幸福的事情。不论是肥而不腻的猪五花，鲜嫩多汁的厚牛排，还是皮香肉弹的烤鸡腿，各色各样的肉类在满足我们味蕾的同时，还提升了我们的幸福感。如今，全球肉类消费的增长速度远远超过了人口的增长速度，就连落后的非洲地区，也开始大量消费肉类。在这个“全民吃肉”的时代，肉类消费的增长会带来哪些影响？今天，就让我们和雪梨老师一起，读读《经济学人》的相关报道。

新闻原文

Global meat-eating is on the rise, bringing surprising benefits

 The Economist

In the decade to 2017 global meat consumption rose by an average of 1.9% a year and fresh dairy consumption by 2.1% — both about twice as fast as population growth.

Yet many sub-Saharan Africans still eat almost no meat, dairy or fish. This is seldom the result of religious or cultural prohibitions. If animal foods were cheaper, or if people had more money, they would eat more of them. Richard Waite of the World Resources Institute, an American think tank, points out that when Africans move to rich countries and open restaurants, they tend to write meat-heavy menus.

But this frugal continent is beginning to sway the global food system. Africa already imports more meat each year than does China, and the OECD’s forecasters expect imports to keep growing by more than 3% a year.

People will probably become healthier. Animal products are excellent sources of essential vitamins and minerals. Studies in several developing countries have shown that giving milk to schoolchildren makes them taller. Recent research in rural western Kenya found that children who regularly ate eggs grew 5% faster than children who did not.

Africans’ changing diets also create opportunities for local businesses. As cities grow, and as people in those cities demand more animal protein, national supply chains become bigger and more sophisticated. Animal breeders, hatcheries, vets and trucking companies multiply.

It is often said that sub-Saharan Africa lacks an industrial base, and this is true. But to look only for high-tech, export-oriented industries risks overlooking the continent’s increasingly sophisticated food-producers, who are responding to urban demand. Ideally, Africa would learn to fill shipping containers with clothes and gadgets. For now, there are some jobs to be had filling bellies with meat.

带着问题听讲解

如何理解“think tank”？

“集装箱”用英语怎么说？

标题中提到的“surprising benefits”有哪些？

新闻正文

Global meat-eating is on the rise, bringing surprising benefits

全球肉类消费增长，喜提惊人益处！

In the decade to 2017 global meat consumption rose by an average of 1.9% a year and fresh dairyconsumption by 2.1% — both about twice as fast as population growth.

从 2007 年到 2017 年，全球肉类消费量年平均增长了 1.9%，新鲜奶制品消费量上升了 2.1%——两者的增长率都相当于全球人口增长率的两倍。

Yet many sub-Saharan Africans still eat almost no meat, dairy or fish. This is seldom the result of religious or cultural prohibitions. If animal foods were cheaper, or if people had more money, they would eat more of them. Richard Waite of the World Resources Institute, an American think tank, points out that when Africans move to rich countries and open restaurants, they tend to write meat-heavy menus.

然而，在撒哈拉以南的非洲地区，仍然有不少人几乎不吃任何肉类、奶制品或鱼类。这其中少有宗教和文化禁令的影响。如果肉类食品价格更加便宜，或者人们更加富有，他们就会消费更多的动物食品了。来自世界资源研究所（一所美国的智库）的理查德·韦特指出，当非洲居民移居到发达国家开餐馆时，他们倾向于在菜单上列出不少肉菜。

But this frugal continent is beginning to sway the global food system. Africa already imports more meat each year than does China, and the OECD’s forecasters expect imports to keep growing by more than 3% a year.

但是这个食肉甚少的大陆正开始撼动全球粮食体系。非洲每年进口的肉类总量已经超过了中国，并且，经济合作与发展组织的预测专家估计：进口肉类的总量还会以超过 3%的年增长率继续上升。

People will probably become healthier. Animal products are excellent sources of essential vitamins and minerals. Studies in several developing countries have shown that giving milk to schoolchildren makes them taller. Recent research in rural western Kenya found that children who regularly ate eggs grew 5% faster than children who did not.

人们有可能会变得更健康。动物产品是人体必需的维生素和矿物质的极佳来源。在几个发展中国家进行的研究表明，给学生喝牛奶会让他们长得更高。最近在肯尼亚西部农村进行的一项研究发现，经常吃鸡蛋的儿童比不常吃鸡蛋的儿童成长速度快 5%。

Africans’ changing diets also create opportunities for local businesses. As cities grow, and as people in those cities demand more animal protein, national supply chains become bigger and more sophisticated. Animal breeders, hatcheries, vets and trucking companies multiply.

非洲人饮食结构的改变也为当地企业创造了机会。随着城市的发展，以及这些城市的人们对动物蛋白的需求增加，全国的肉类供应链变得越来越长，也越来越复杂。动物饲养员、孵化场、兽医和卡车运输公司的数量都成倍地增长。

It is often said that sub-Saharan Africa lacks an industrial base, and this is true. But to look only for high-tech, export-orientedindustries risks overlooking the continent’s increasingly sophisticated food-producers, who are responding to urban demand. Ideally, Africa would learn to fill shipping containers with clothes and gadgets. For now, there are some jobs to be had filling bellies with meat.

人们常常认为，撒哈拉以南的非洲缺乏工业基础，这的确是真的。但如果仅仅指望高科技、出口导向型的工业，就会面临忽视非洲本土日益成熟的食品生产商的风险，这些生产商正满足着城市的需求。理想情况下，非洲人将学着用服装和小商品装满集装箱，但目前来说，人们可以靠贩卖肉食来谋个生计。

重点词汇

dairy
/ˈderi/
n. 乳制品
文化补充：Dairy Queen (DQ)
相关词汇：diary /'daɪə.ri/

prohibition
/ˌproʊɪˈbɪʃn/
n. 禁令，禁律
词性拓展：prohibit
prohibit 英文释义：officially refuse to allow something
搭配短语：a prohibition against/on sth.
例句：New York City has announced a prohibition on smoking on buses.
搭配短语：the Prohibition Era

think tank
智囊团，智库
相关词汇：tank
英文释义：a group of experts who provide advice and ideas on political, social or economic issues

frugal
/ˈfruːɡl/
adj. 节俭的，简朴的；（膳食）少量的
例句：She lives a frugal life.

sway
/sweɪ/
v. 影响，使动摇
搭配短语：sway in the wind
搭配短语：sway back and forth
英文释义：to influence
例句：Don’t allow yourself to be swayed by his words!

forecaster
/ˈfɔːrkæstər/
n. 预测者
相关词汇：forecast
搭配短语：a weather forecaster
搭配短语：an economic forecaster

mineral
/ˈmɪnərəl/
n.（人体所需的）矿物质
搭配短语：rich in minerals

sophisticated
/səˈfɪstɪkeɪtɪd/
adj. 先进的，复杂的；见多识广的
英文释义：very well designed and very advanced
搭配短语：a sophisticated weapons system
搭配短语：a sophisticated telescope
搭配短语：a sophisticated, witty old man

breeder
/ˈbriːdər/
n. 饲养员
相关词汇：breed

hatchery
/ˈhætʃəri/
n. 孵化场
相关词汇：hatch（v. 孵化）
词根词缀：-ery（表“地点”）
相关词汇：nursery
相关词汇：rosery

multiply
/ˈmʌltɪplaɪ/
v. 乘以；成倍增加
例句：2 multiplied by 4 is 8.
英文释义：to increase very much in number or amount

oriented
/ˈɔriˌɛntɪd/
以…为中心的，以…为导向的
相关词汇：customer-oriented（adj. 以顾客为中心的）
相关词汇：profit-oriented（adj. 以利润为导向的）

shipping container
集装箱
同义词：container

gadget
/ˈɡædʒɪt/
n. 小玩意，小机件

拓展阅读

世界资源研究所

世界资源研究所是一家独立的研究机构，致力于寻求保护环境、发展经济和改善民生的实际解决方案。该机构围绕水、粮食、森林、能源、城市和气候这六大议题开展工作，并结合商业、经济、金融和治理领域的相关专业知识，提出相应的解决方案。目前，世界资源研究所拥有 700 多名员工和专家，在中国、巴西、欧洲、印度、印度尼西亚、墨西哥和美国等国家均设有办公室。

2008 年，世界资源研究所在中国北京开设了首个海外办公室，在大气污染协同控制和预防、水质-水生态-水资源协同管理、绿色金融以及环境治理能力建设等主要领域支持国家的环境保护和可持续发展战略。