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Investors bet on eventual meat tax

Some investors are asking when meat might be taxed.  A Bloomberg report says investor group FAIRR – the Farm Animal Investment Risk & Return – Initiative is betting that taxes charged in some global jurisdictions on tobacco, carbon and sugar will be extended to meat.  Lawmakers in Denmark, Germany, China and Sweden have discussed creating livestock-related taxes, but so far, the concept has strong resistance.

There are those who see a global levy on meat as a way to improve public health and hit Paris Climate Agreement emissions targets.  Socially focused investors are starting to push companies to diversify into plant protein.  Livestock producer Tyson has already invested in plant-based burger maker Beyond Meat.

Meanwhile, the Food & Agriculture Organization projects growing demand in India and China will result in global meat consumption jumping 73 percent by mid-century.