NCBA releases counter response to article published in The Guardian
The following statement from NCBA, a contractor to the US Beef Checkoff, was released in response to an article published this week in The Guardian:
17 September 2021
1 minute read
This week, The Guardian published an article titled “Meat accounts for nearly 60% of all greenhouse gases from food production, study finds.” Both the article and study conflate global and U.S. emissions numbers.
According to the EPA, beef cattle are responsible for only 2% of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. as of 2021. The article and study state that forests are felled to make space for grazing animals. However, deforestation to make room for agriculture is not a concern in the U.S. Unlike many other countries, the U.S. is gaining forestland. Another concern is urban creep—the conversion of forest and ranchland to make room for urban development, and the approximately 1 million acres of urban areas added every year.
Approximately 29% of the U.S. is pasture and rangeland that is too rocky, steep, and/or arid to support growing food crops – yet this land can perfectly support cattle, sheep and goats, and in turn contributes high-quality protein for people.
As we head into climate week, headlines like this can be confusing to consumers who deserve to know the truth behind the environmental impact of their food choices and the important role that beef plays in a sustainable food system.
TheCattleSite News Desk
