'Meat price must rise tens of percent'

If we want to pay the real price for meat, the current price must be increased by 20% to 60%. That is the opinion of Inge van den Bijgaart of the School of Economics at Utrecht University. "When you look at the real price of meat, you also have to factor in the effects on climate change, nitrogen emissions and the negative consequences for biodiversity, health and animal welfare."

Together with researchers from various universities in Europe, Van den Bijgaart analyzed the 'real price of meat'. From the investigation 'Is meat too cheap? Towards optimal meat taxation' shows that the current meat price is far too low and that too much meat is consumed in Europe. A price increase of 20% to 60% is necessary to compensate for the harmful effects of meat consumption. "We have only taken into account the most important environmental costs, such as climate change and nitrogen emissions. Matters such as the loss of biodiversity, the health effects of meat consumption and the effect on animal welfare have not yet been taken into account," says Van den Bijgaart.

Wallet is victim
In concrete terms, such a price increase for beef would mean a price increase of €5 to €8 per kilo. "If a tax on meat is opted for, it will hit consumers considerably in the wallet. And the unfortunate thing is: that is actually the intention. The whole point of pricing is that consumers consume less of it," says Van den Accompanied by an accompanying press release. The researchers do propose that the proceeds of a so-called meat tax be used to compensate low incomes and to help agricultural entrepreneurs make their businesses more sustainable.

A price correction for meat will of course not immediately solve all problems, Van den Bijgaart acknowledges. "You don't directly improve animal welfare with it, for example. It may result in less chicken meat being consumed, but the animals are still in the same pen. So additional regulations are needed." The researchers also do not take into account that a tax on meat will be introduced in the short term. "There are strong arguments for doing it, but we do not consider an introduction in the short term realistic."

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