Red meat and global nutrition

Anemia, food security, sustainability, trade, and the future of protein are not separate conversations. They collide at the dinner plate, especially in countries where nutrition is not guaranteed and where families buy what is affordable, not what is trendy. We sit down with Dan Halstrom, President and CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation, to get specific about what beef, pork, and lamb contribute to human health and why education around nutrient density still matters.

We talk about complete protein and the real-world role of iron and zinc, then move into a concrete example from developing markets: using affordable beef liver as a “center of the plate” option to help fight iron deficiency and anemia. From there, we unpack the trade mechanics that shape availability and price. Dan explains why imports and exports work as a single system, including how lean trim imports support America’s huge ground beef demand while exports create value by moving a wider range of cuts and variety meats to the markets that want them.

Global population growth toward 10 billion and the rise of a global middle class raise the stakes. Dan shares how market diversification reduces risk, why long-term relationship building turned Mexico into a powerhouse market, and how newer bets like Colombia and Central America grew through deliberate investment. We also look at sustainability through the lens of productivity, quality assurance programs like PQA Plus and BQA, and the US track record on food safety as the foundation for global trust.

If you care about global nutrition, meat exports, sustainable beef and pork production, and science-based food policy, hit subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review. What part of the nutrition and trade link surprised you most?

Transcript

Welcome And Guest Introduction

SPEAKER_00 0:09

Welcome to One Health Live, where we examine the topics of importance to animals, humans, and the environment. Our purpose is to help those across the food production system better understand the issues from a science-based perspective. We strive to be thought-provoking and fact-based in our efforts to bring you the latest news and information. I'm Sarah Muirhead, and with me today is One Health Live co-host, Dennis Urpleding, founder of Global Farmview.

Why Red Meat Nutrients Matter

SPEAKER_01 0:35

Thank you, Sarah, and great to be with you here today. And it's my pleasure to introduce our guest, uh Dan Hallstrom. He's the president and CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation. Dan has a very long history in the meat industry, starting in 1984 and has been focused on international sales. Initially worked with Swift and Company, and then their subsequent operations is Montfort, Conagra, and JBS. Dan's latter role with them was actually vice president of international division. Now Dan is with the U.S. Meat Export Federation since 2010 and has actually been leading the organization for about the last decade. And I will ask too, Sarah, Dan and I are actually Iowa boys that went global in our careers. So I'm delighted to welcome Dan to the call today. As we look at our podcast today, we are under the umbrella of the One Health, and obviously global food security, um, nutrition are very important in that process. Also, we note that USMES has your 50th anniversary coming up here uh later this year. Uh USMEF Met represents the beef, pork, and lamb sectors. So, in the context of One Health nutrition, we recognize nutrition is critically global. Can you share some high-level nutritional values of the red meats from a USMEF perspective, please?

Fighting Anemia With Affordable Cuts

SPEAKER_02 1:46

Yeah, thank you, Dennis. Yeah, um, be glad to. I mean, and thank you for the for the note on our 50th anniversary. We were founded in 1976 in Denver and still going strong. So we're proud of that. Um, yeah, um, the nutrition aspect, I think this is one of the key points of uh, you know, almost everything we do around the world involves education and and making people aware. And uh, I think nutrition is at the one of the things at the top of the list. If you look at uh beef and pork together, um they provide some of this highest quality, complete protein opportunities uh with all nine key amino acids uh uh present in both uh servings of beef and pork. And uh uh and beef specifically, extremely high uh sources of uh of iron and zinc and the the sorts of nutrients that are needed to keep people healthy. And uh uh I I know we have a question come up here later talking about uh how we how we put that into play in the foreign markets, but there's a lot of places around the world where nutrition uh is really not a given and uh something we really have to pay a lot of attention to. But without a doubt, uh and in this protein boom that we're seeing in the US and abroad, uh protein even plays a more important role than it once used to.

SPEAKER_00 3:09

When one thinks about nutrition, trade tends to add a key twist to that, especially when we talk about developing countries. Can you give us an idea, uh give us a look at nutritional value from a developing country's perspective?

SPEAKER_02 3:26

Sure, Sarah, thank you. I'd be glad to. I I think this one's easy. I mean, uh the best example I can give is there's a lot of countries around the world where anemia plays a big role. Uh, I I think of Peru, Egypt, uh there's various African nations that unfortunately deal and struggle with anemia and a lot of their uh population. So what we've done is we've it's really not that hard to do, you know, when you talk about the center of the plate, um, a lot of these countries, and especially certain cultures or demographics within some of these key countries, like in Egypt, like Peru, like uh, you know, uh Angola, for example, um, you have an opportunity here to really help. And and and the for the most part, we're not talking ribeyes and tenderloins being the center of the plate. It's really whatever's affordable is the center of the plate. And what we're seeing is maybe a switch from some of the starches like rice to something like a beef liver, a thinly sized sliced beef liver, um, very high in iron, very high in zinc, very healthy, and at a very attractive price point, relatively, especially in the spectrum of beef. And uh we we're doing we're doing all sorts of work in in uh a lot of it in Egypt, a lot of it in Peru, where we feature the beef US beef liver as center of the plate, and the number one thing we're talking about is the nutritional benefits.

Imports Exports And Ground Beef Math

SPEAKER_00 4:54

So USMEF focuses on on exports, but to also recognize, of course, the role of imports. How does USMEF look at exports and imports and that important role of each and how they play together?

SPEAKER_02 5:09

Yeah, that that's a good good point, and one that's sometimes misunderstood. Um, you can't look at them in a vacuum. I mean, what we're really talking about is trade, right? And trade, by definition, goes both ways, right? The global market is very, very efficient. So it it can react to a change in one part of the world, in another part of the world, and and it's a value opportunity, an opportunity to maximize value. And we have a very good example right now of that going on in the US, where our cattle supply is at 50-year lows. Um, the weights are heavier, so production's not at 50-year lows, but the supply of cattle is. And um so what we're seeing is uh our imports, and and we're not focused on imports, you're right, but we do appreciate them because uh we're at very high levels of imports, mainly of lean trim from around various places around the world, Australia, for example. And um, and why do we do that? Because ground beef is the single biggest thing consumed in the US on the beef side, over 50% of the consumption. So, what do you do with lean trim? You mix it with fat trim. We have a we have an ample supply of fat trim, but we do not have an ample supply of lean trim. We we don't, even when the cattle supply is normal. So that import aspect is normal. We see this, this is not a new phenomenon. It's at higher levels right now, simply because of our cattle cycle. But when we come out of the cattle cycle and increase, you'll see those go down. But my point is it's a key component of the trade in that it allows us to maximize our because if we were if we were boating out trucks at a lower price for hamburger, we wouldn't be able to sell the trucks at a higher level here domestically or internationally. So the trade works well. The imported lean trims at a much cheaper value. The exports are the domestic consumption of our subprimals are at a higher value, it's better for the whole supply chain here.

Red Meat In Global Food Security

SPEAKER_01 7:07

Dan, as we think today, we hear we've got 8 billion people, um, estimated to become 10 billion people globally. How do you see red meats contributing to that global food security needs? And also your comment now where even the protein demand is unique, you might say, because of the overall health of um how people are looking at healthy diets these days. So, how do we look at the role of red meat in that growing global population?

Building Demand Through Market Diversity

SPEAKER_02 7:31

Yeah, I think um I think the this is an important point. The obviously, depending on which economists you listen to, you know, are we gonna hit you know 10 billion people in the world in 2040 or whatever? It's gonna come, it's just a matter of when. But there's another aspect we should think about, and that's the growing middle class globally as well, because that is also growing at a very fast clip, even in regions like Africa that you wouldn't think uh has a growing middle class, and they very much do. So, how I see this is uh it's an opportunity on one hand, but it could be a challenge on another if we're not careful. And uh and and food security definitely plays into that. And I think that uh when you look at some of the agriculturally surplus regions of the world, uh the two that stand out to me are North America and South America, uh, I see some responsibility there that we we proceed in a in a very uh constructive, sustainable uh you know way so that we can do our best to make sure that we're able to supply these people uh the food and more specifically in our case the protein that they need, both from a nutritional as well as a uh uh caloric standpoint.

SPEAKER_00 8:49

Market diversity, it's a it's a core component in any market development and in and exports. Can you elaborate, Dan, on how USMEF looks at diversity of markets and and how different parts are in demand in various markets?

SPEAKER_02 9:05

Yeah, this is really at the core of what we do. Um, you know, you look at some of the traditional markets for US beef and US pork, and uh you're talking about the Japans, the Koreas, the Mexicos, of course. Um, very, very important, have been for decades and continue to be very important today. But one of the key components of what we do with our stakeholders, the pork industry, the beef industry, uh, corn and soybean industries as well, is we're always looking at what's the next Mexico or what's the next Japan. And um, there's many examples. Um I'll give you one specific one. On pork, about 15 years ago when I started at USMEF, or well, it's actually 16 years ago, um Colombia was an area that was just starting. And um, you know, very small business in 2010. Um the total exports from the US at that time were about 18 million dollars. And the industry, meaning MEF and our stakeholders, the pork industry and soybean as well, since their inputs into pork, we had a lot of very targeted questions and discussions around hey, maybe we need to take some money out of these more mature markets and invest in the future. And we all agreed that Columbia showed a lot of promise. So we did that in 2010. Fast forward to 2025 stats from last year. I don't think anyone thought it was going to grow the amount it did.$365 million of exports of pork uh last year. So this is one example on the pork side of where we took a chance, similar to what we did in the 1980s with Mexico. We took a chance and now it's our largest market on pork. So we're talking about the same thing with the Columbia here. On the beef side, another example there, uh, Central America on beef. Uh, in 2010, it was barely$30 million of exports. Today it was over last year, 2025, we were over 200 million. So those are two examples on beef and pork where you're investing in a future 15 years ago. Now, maybe it would have gotten to these levels eventually, but it would have taken a lot longer had we, the industry, not been aggressive uh 15 years ago. So this is very much at the core, uh, the core of what we do, not to be too reliant on any one market and look what the next markets could be. Um, and and you know, this is this a lot of these markets aren't, like I said, aren't ribeyes and strip loins. A lot of these markets are beef livers and beef tongues and pork stomachs. We're selling the whole carcass, and that's another key of making of maximizing the value in these diverse markets.

What Exports Pay Producers Per Head

SPEAKER_01 11:54

Dan, you just touched on some of that value proposition. So if you look at it from the US farmer standpoint, think about the collective value of US exports for farmers by species areas, and you've also been reproduced on the soybean sector as well from the input standpoint. How do you frame up the value of US exports as you talk to your members?

SPEAKER_02 12:13

Yeah, this is this is important because I'm gonna give you the the media numbers and I'm gonna give you what we share with the producers because they're a little bit different. So in 2025, on the beef side, we were 9.33 billion dollars of US dollars in total global export sales. So that sounds like a nice number, right? But what does that mean to if you're a cattle producer in in Nebraska or wherever? We we then adjust that. So um for 2025, if you take total export value and divide it by the Fed cattle slaughtered, that's a number that they can relate to. The number in 2025 was$400 ahead. So for every animal slaughtered,$400 ahead was attributable to exports. And we just got February stats here a few hours ago. So for the first two months of 2026, that number is up about to$420 a head for the first two months of this year. On the pork side, similar methodology, actually a little simpler because we're including all hogs slaughtered. We were just including the fed animals in beef, because that's primarily what's exported. But on a pork side, global exports$8.34 billion. And in 2025, that translated to about$63 a head of every animal slaughtered. First two months of this year was at$67 a head. So that's how we communicate on a macro level uh with the producers in the country where it all starts.

Efficiency Programs That Support Sustainability

SPEAKER_00 13:48

The US has a high productivity and efficiency differential. How does that tie into sustainability?

SPEAKER_02 13:57

Yeah, I think um, yeah, sustainability is a big word that has a lot of uh lot of definitions, right? But uh I don't I'd be hard pressed to find an example that's better than the beef and pork industries on the progress that's been made. Um you have a lot of different levels. You look to improved genetics, you know, more more uh over time, more pigs per litter saved. On, you know, you look at uh you look at water rate usages um over time, uh be it the live side or the plant fabrication slaughter side, um, you know, it wasn't that many years ago where the water usage was through the roof. And now almost all of these plants are recycling their water and uh and just cutting the usage rates fractions of what it used to be. And I think this is uh this this is really uh it's it's I'm gonna use the word commonplace, but it's normal. This is this is the normal SOP today, and uh there's a couple of programs that need to be noted here. Um you know, the uh on the beef side, I'm sorry, the pork side has a really good one called PQA Plus. This is the pork quality assurance plan, which has it's basically an audit trail of all the points of improvement in the pork process. And you to get certified, you have to go through an audit procedure, and and not all producers are certified, but a very high percentage. I forget the exact number, I want to say it's 80 some percent or certified. And then the TQA, it's the transportation equivalent for the pork industry, the certified transportation quality assurance program. And on the beef side, um, the beef side is similar. I just gave an example on the pork side, but you got beef quality assurance BQA on the beef side, uh, similar scenario where there's an audit and and a lot of detail goes into this work. And uh, you know, I think I think one of the stats that I like to use is that uh if you look at our beef herd in the US, and we just talked about how the cattle are short, but the production's not nearly as short. Well, that's efficiencies at work. And 17% of the world's beef is produced in the US with just 6% of the world's cattle. So that gives you an idea of just how how uh how efficient we really are in the US.

Fifty Years Of Trust And Safety

SPEAKER_01 16:21

So, Dan, that really gives us some deep insight as we think about that nutritional part and the value part. You referenced earlier that US MEF celebrates 50 years of export market focus. Can you reflect on the role of MEF through those 50 years, uh, both in the past as well as looking ahead to the future, the opportunities?

What Industry And Government Can Do

SPEAKER_02 16:41

Yeah, I think um I look back, unfortunately, I I can remember most of the 50 years, so I don't know what that says about my age, but uh uh but I think about what US MEF does, but it's not just USMEF, it's the industry. It's about building relationships, it's about building trust, it's about developing business together as an industry. And I think about the best example I can use is Mexico. My first international trip in the business, roughly 1985, I think it was, to Mexico City, you know, when I was an exporter at that time. And uh, you know, it wasn't that safe, couldn't eat the food, drink the water. We went down there to collect, you know, accounts receivable. I mean, it was just the wild, wild west. And the business was very spotty. Uh, today, Mexico, one of the most reliable markets in the world, and uh almost 4 billion in sales between beef, pork, and lamb last year. Um you know, business is regular, uh, credit is stable. Um, but it took 40 some years, right? And that's the way markets start, and that's that's what we hope to achieve with all markets. So, and you know, Korea, Japan, all these places, the Columbia we just talked about on the uh pork, oil and beef side, I think it's really exciting what we've accomplished as an industry the last 50 years. The other thing that we've accomplished is we're the gold standard on safety. Uh now we can go into taste and and and you know quality and all that, but the the the foundation is safety, and we are the global leader in food safety. So as I look forward to the next 50 years, I I see nothing but opportunity. Of course, we have a lot of challenges too. I mean, you get the strong US dollar, you have all this volatility in the marketplace, but the one thing that's not volatile is demand. Demand is solid, demand is the best that I probably have ever seen it, despite all this volatility, including a very strong US dollar that makes our products more expensive in local currency terms in a lot of these markets. So um, so I try to focus on the positives, and I I look at regions like Africa, I look at regions like Indonesia, Malaysia, Southeast Asia in general. We've only scratched the surface, and uh, in a in addition to the larger markets we've already talked about. So I just hope that the next 50 years are even close to the last 50 years, and I think we'll be all pretty happy about that.

SPEAKER_00 19:18

Exactly. Any any closing thoughts or calls for action related to government or industry as we kind of note that important role of red meats in global nutrition and food security?

Subscribe And Closing Thanks

SPEAKER_02 19:32

Well, I think a couple of thoughts. Number one is especially for your producer listeners, uh, cattle producers, pig producers, corn, soybean, you know, it starts at the farm, right? I mean, we wouldn't be able to, I wouldn't be able to do what I do, uh, which I love doing if it wasn't for our producers that are that are producing this high quality, great tasting product. So kudos to them. Kudos to them for adopting technology in a very um responsible manner. Um, you know, some of our competitors around the world do not adopt technology. I don't want to point at the EU, but I will, the EU in particular. Um so I think that's that's a good thing. And um, you know, I I do think uh the other the other shout out here is that uh uh we deal, we get funding investment through the US government, uh a significant amount, 30, 35 percent. And um the government from our perspective is wonderful to work with. Uh we work closely with FAS, but we also work with FSIS, work with the AFIS. Um the the partnership between industry and the government, a lot of people may not say, uh, working with the government's tough. I don't think it's that tough. They're they're very responsible, they're they're very much invested in what we do, and I think for the most part, have our back. So uh I think we should be very proud of that as well.

SPEAKER_00 21:03

Very good. Our sincere thanks, Dan, for joining us here today and for sharing these excellent insights. It's been a been a great, great discussion. So thank you so much.

SPEAKER_02 21:14

Thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_00 21:16

As noted, One Health is important as we look to some of our most challenging issues of today. Don't miss a One Health Live podcast. Subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast channel. Until next time, have a great day and thank you for listening.