You might be unsure about whether to keep eating meat if you have environmental concerns. So let’s dive into this article to know about sustainable meat.
Due to its land and water requirements, food production has an impact on the environment. Thus, it is commonly believed that eating foods that are produced using fewer resources (and don’t significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions) is better for the environment.
Vegetable or vegan diets are frequently referred to as sustainable because plant-based foods are generally thought to be more environmentally friendly than meat and animal products.
But there are a lot of factors to take into account when assessing meat’s impact on the environment. As a matter of fact, there might be methods to reduce your consumption of meat without giving it up entirely.
This article explores the subtleties of meat’s environmental impact before going over how to eat meat while maintaining an eco-friendly diet.
The effects of meat on the environment
Land and water must be abundantly available for the raising of animals for food. Additionally, methane released through burping and the use of animal feed and manure all contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
In actuality, 14.5% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions—which fuel climate change—come from cattle. Moreover, industrial livestock production causes air pollution, freshwater contamination, soil erosion, and deforestation.
It is believed that beef has a greater environmental impact than dairy, pork, fish, eggs, or chicken; however, the environmental impact of these foods varies according to their production methods.
Plant foods that are whole and minimally processed, such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and olive oil, have some of the least negative effects on the environment.
It’s still challenging to compare every kind of plant and animal product. Compared to other plant-based foods, some plant foods—like some nuts and highly processed foods—have significantly greater environmental effects.
While evaluating the ecological impact of meat, it’s also critical to take into account the scale of meat production—small farms versus feedlots—because the discussion regarding livestock’s contribution to climate change is nuanced.
Highlights of the environmental effects of beef
Certain methods of producing meat are more sustainable than others, even though the meat industry generally uses more resources and contributes more to climate change than plant foods.
Additionally, despite the common belief that beef is more environmentally harmful than other meats, some analyses appear to disagree.
For instance, American beef production is more efficient than it is in the majority of other countries. Farmers can feed more people while using fewer cattle thanks to innovations like improved breeding and feed additives, which also lessen environmental impact.
It has been demonstrated that adding a particular kind of seaweed to the diet of dairy cows can enhance their digestion and cut their methane emissions by as much as 60%. Seaweed supplements have the potential to reduce methane emissions in beef cattle by up to 80%.
According to recent studies, the production of beef in the United States accounts for 3.7% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions and less than 0.5% of global emissions. Ten percent of US emissions come from the entire agriculture sector, compared to twenty-nine percent from the transportation sector.
Sufficient cattle management could be good for the environment.
The majority of cattle in the United States are raised on land unsuitable for growing vegetables and other plant foods, despite the fact that the production of beef cattle produces more greenhouse gases than that of poultry, pork, or dairy. Raising meat on this land might be thought of as an effective method of feeding people.
Beef and other meats are also good for your health. Meat is a great source of protein and important micronutrients.
Livestock is essential to many communities in the US and around the world for employment and sustainable meat.
Furthermore, some people might not have access to plant-based diets that are sufficiently nutritious, so cutting back on meat consumption could be detrimental to their livelihoods and nutrition. It’s also possible that eating meat is essential to their traditions or culture.
Lastly, healthy soil and land can be maintained by well-managed cattle. Using the right grazing practices can prevent carbon from escaping into the atmosphere and strengthen the land’s resistance to flooding.
Using these methods, cows are allowed to graze on long grasses without damaging the soil with their hooves or overgrazing. Because of this, the grasses are able to retain long, robust roots that can withstand moisture and store carbon in the soil.
By reducing the amount of grass that can catch fire, grazing cows may also aid in the prevention of wildfires.
How to have more sustainable meat.
Meat’s environmental impact analysis is a complex process.
While some environmentalists advise against consuming any meat or animal products at all in order to fight climate change, there are numerous other reasons that argue in favor of including animal products in eco-friendly diets.
Eating more whole, minimally processed plant foods is generally a good thing. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes are some of these foods. Reducing total meat consumption and selecting animal products from sustainably raised sources are also beneficial.
Here are some suggestions for including meat in a diet that is environmentally friendly.
Select meats that have been raised on pasture or on grass.
When buying meat, read the label; limit or stay away from products that were raised in feedlots or CAFOs.
It’s probably from a CAFO if the label doesn’t say pasture-raised or grass-fed.
Asking the farmer about their sustainability practices is a good idea if you can speak with them face-to-face, like at a farmers market.
While conventionally raised cattle may have higher lifetime methane emissions than grass-fed or pasture-raised cows, the overall effects on the local ecosystem are significantly lower, and in some cases even positive.
Conclusion on sustainable meat.
Meat requires resources to produce, just like other foods. Though overall, it has a more environmental impact than plant-based foods, the whole story is more complex.
Compared to pasture-raised and grass-fed animals, animals raised in CAFOs have a far greater impact on the land, water, air, surrounding communities, and global warming. On the other hand, growing plant foods is typically regarded as more environmentally friendly.
Try consuming less meat and more complete, minimally processed plant foods if you’re interested in adopting an environmentally friendly diet. Try to choose pasture-raised, grass-fed, or sustainably raised meat sources when you eat it.