Engaging diverse small and medium-sized livestock stakeholders in design processes to increase access to meat slaughter and processing facilities

The overall purpose of this project is to provide publicly accessible information for use by individuals and groups that have an interest in investing in the halal meat supply chain in Minnesota. The project team held discussions and conducted interviews with stakeholders in the halal meat industry including halal livestock producers, meat processors, halal consumers, city planners, tribal livestock producers, sustainable and grass-based livestock producers, and regulatory and industry representatives. The graduate research assistant collected information from primary sources (surveys and key informant interviews) and secondary sources (US Census data, Agricultural Census data, Minnesota Department of Agriculture meat processing database, and previous project reports). Information was decoded and depicted visually using graphic images and mapping via GIS software in a Story Map format. The Halal Supply Chain Story Map summarizes and displays pertinent findings from the project and is available online accessible from this link: https://extension.umn.edu/livestock-operations/halal-friendly-minnesota#halal-supply-chain-story-map-3352962

The following image thumbnails represent pertinent research areas and results within the Halal Supply Chain Story Map. 

Somali Muslims in Minnesota constitute a large majority of the states halal consumers. This is relevant as Somalis make up a large portion of the potential market for halal meats as well as the preference of goat meat in Somali culture compared to other population groups that prefer lamb or beef. The map on the left depicts the distribution of Somalis in Minnesota census tracts indicating the geographic spread and location of this population. It should be noted that census tracts are relatively smaller in urban areas and larger in rural areas. As a result, some rural census tracts may visually appear to have larger concentrations of Somali residents than they do. The actual number of Somalis is available upon clicking on a census tract. It should be noted that there are other populations in Minnesota the represent ancestry or immigration from other Muslim countries, but a wider analysis would have been beyond the scope of this project. 

The map on the top of halal-consuming populations in Minnesota represents a heat map of halal consumers. It considers the population density and distribution of halal consumers throughout the state and somewhat smooths out the distortion in the previous map caused by the existence of limited numbers of Somali residents in rural census tracts. Yet the Twin Cities Metro area still appears less significant visually due to the large number of small census tracts containing Somali residents. Halal consuming population is calculated by summarizing the total number of individuals self reporting as having ancestry from a country with a known Muslim population divided by the expected percentage of Muslims within that country's population. 

In the years between 2001 and 2021, the increase in population among halal consumers has gone up 157% while the increase in population among the total population has increased by 13%. Since 2017 the number of halal consuming populations has decreased, but the overall trend still indicates increasing population. 

Currently, the majority of halal goat meat consumed in Minnesota is frozen goat meat imported from Australia. In interviews, halal goat meat consumers indicated a preference for fresh halal goat meat, but price point is a potential issue. Some consumers are able to afford fresh goat meat. Owners and workers in halal grocery stores have indicated that fresh goat meat is sporadically available and sells out quickly. 'Special occasion' goat meat is also important culturally and will be in higher demand around important Muslim holidays of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, and Eid al-Adha in addition to births, weddings, and other important personal and cultural events. 

The meat goat population in Minnesota has remained relatively consistent over time with a slight increase in recent years. Some farmers indicated that the harsh and cold winter climate in Minnesota is a challenge to raising meat goats while others indicated that climate is not a burdensome challenge. Many farmers indicated that lack of knowledge of halal meat and livestock raising practices was a challenge for providing product to this consumer group. 

This map depicts the density of meat goats raised in Minnesota. The largest density of meat goats are in counties just north and east of the Twin Cities Metro, counties in Southeastern Minnesota, and Todd County.

The top map above shows the distribution of meat packing plants throughout Minnesota with a slider bar that allows the user to toggle between all plans and those that self-report as providing halal slaughter. The map in the center shows the distribution of grocery stores and retailers that sell halal meat. The map on the bottom provides small case studies of various meat processors and livestock producers that provide halal services. 

The research team conducted a number of individual surveys to gather more in depth information on challenges and opportunities farmers, consumers, and retailers faced when trying to access or provide halal meat to the marketplace. Often a lack of cultural understanding or awareness of customs and practices between Minnesota farmers and immigrant populations posed challenges. This section of the story map anonymously lays out some of the individual example's of challenges people have faced when trying to access the halal supply chain as producers, processors, buyers, and sellers. The intention of this section is to help people get a better understanding of peoples intentions and experiences so those participating in the halal supply chain can overcome barriers and support each other. 

This section also highlights other challenges facing halal supply chain operators including a brief analysis of zoning laws, lack of certifying halal agencies, managing supply and demand over Muslim holidays, lack of large animal veterinarians, and processors lack of knowledge or comfort levels with halal slaughter.