NAPCo launches first carbon neutral beef in Australia

As concerns grow around the environmental implications of our cattle, a Queensland company is fighting back with the launch of Australia’s first carbon neutral beef.

Nicholas Henderson and Ross Bratt are working towards making Lanreef Station, west of Roma, carbon neutral. Picture: Lachie Millard

A QUEENSLAND beef company is tackling the environmental impact of its cattle, launching Australia’s first carbon neutral beef into butchers and retail outlets.

Created by NAPCo, the Five Founders range involves the company planting trees, converting to solar, reducing its carbon footprint and buying products around the world to offset its emissions from its 200,000 cattle spread across 14 properties in Queensland and the Northern Territory.

“There’s more focus on the impact animal production is having on the environment,” said NAPCo general manager and former Wallabies captain Stephen Moore.

“The actual product itself doesn’t look or taste any different. It’s ultimately things like eating quality and price point that’s going to be a big driver, but I think the carbon neutral side of it is an important part of it, as is sustainability and ethical animal welfare.

“We need to try to do something to answer some of the things why people are changing their buying habits.”

The beef has already been used by some of Queensland’s best chefs at restaurants including Stokehouse Q, the Norman Hotel and GOMA Restaurant, and will now be available through gourmet butchers and delis across the country, including Brisbane’s Meat at Billy’s in Ashgrove and Rosalie, and Clayfield Markets.

Spurred on by the rising vegan movement and its associated criticism, creating carbon neutral beef took NAPCo more than 12 months to achieve. While they have now reached the Australian Federal Government’s strict criteria, Mr Moore said the company was continually looking for ways to increase efficiencies and reduce its carbon footprint further.

“We understand that consumers are more concerned about the environment than ever before and we believe this carbon neutral certification offers the consumer the right product to make a better beef decision,” said NAPCo head of pastoral Stewart Taylor.