As global demand for beef grows, the world’s need for smarter, greener production systems is becoming increasingly urgent. Beef production is one of the biggest contributors to climate change. Livestock is responsible for 14.5% of all global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions each year, and beef production is one of the most energy-intensive and emissions-intensive of all food production activities.
There are several ways beef production contributes to global warming. The most significant impact comes from the amount of methane cows release into the atmosphere. Methane is a powerful GHG and has a global warming potential (GWP) of 84 times that of carbon dioxide. It is released when cows eat, digest and excrete feed, when their manure decomposes and during land degradation resulting from overgrazing and soil erosion. Additionally, beef production involves multiple activities that utilize energy and release emissions, including the harvesting and processing of feed, raising and maintaining livestock, the use of chemicals and fertilizers, and transporting animals and feed. The clearing of natural vegetation for pasture and cropland used for livestock feed is also a major GHG driver.
But there are also some positive impacts associated with beef production. Livestock can often play a role in healthy and sustainable grassland management, for example in the form of managed grazing, which can have a beneficial impact on biodiversity and carbon sequestration. When cows are grazed in grasslands that have well-managed soils and a balance of species, they can actually help to increase the soil’s carbon storage capacity. Additionally, the meat products themselves provide valuable nutrition that can help to contribute to global food security.
The key to finding a balance between the benefits of beef production and its climate impact lies in efficient and sustainable production. As demand for beef continues to increase, farmers and policy makers must continue to look for innovative ways to meet that demand in a way that is both economically and environmentally sustainable. Improving the efficiency of beef production, from feed and land management to processing and transport, is one of the most effective ways to reduce emissions and increase the sustainability of beef production. Examples range from improving grazing practices to introducing alternative feeds for cows, such as forage crops and agricultural by-products, and even cellular agriculture.
At the same time, changes to policies and food practices around beef can act as strong incentives to reduce emissions and beef-related GHG emissions. By replacing a portion of beef with plant-based proteins or other animal proteins or changing the dietary patterns of consumers, shifts in global diets could lead to a reduction of up to 1.5 gigatons of CO2-equivalent emissions by 2050. Setting carbon pricing, offering subsidies for low-emission farming practices and creating incentives for processors to adopt more sustainable practices are other policy-level measures that could help reduce the emissions burden from beef production.
It is clear that beef production has both positive and negative implications for the global climate. While it is still contributing heavily to GHG emissions, it does not necessarily have to be a heavy burden on the planet. With smart and efficient production systems, improved management and greater sustainable food system design, we can significantly reduce the environmental costs of beef production. We owe it to our planet, and all of its inhabitants, to take these steps to ensure a more sustainable and climate-friendly beef production sector.
