Sustainability of beef boosted with new targets to slash warming
Eating meat will be better for the planet if the goals of a global coalition to make beef “climate neutral” are effective.
Beef eaters will soon be consuming a more environmentally friendly product, with a lighter carbon footprint, thanks to a major global commitment to lifting the sustainability of the cattle sector.
The Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef last week revealed its goals to advance and improve the sustainability of the global beef value chain – and they include a commitment to make beef’s impact climate neutral.
Covering climate, land use and animal health and wellbeing, the goals back the Roundtable’s mission is to “ensure sustainable beef can remain part of an important global supply chain”.
Top of their list is reduce the net global warming impact of beef by 30 per cent.
Next, to ensure the beef value chain is a net positive contributor to nature; and, to provide cattle with an environment in which they can thrive, achieved through increased adoption of best agricultural practices.
The Roundtable is a worldwide network of the people and organisations – with the aim of being developing a more environmentally responsible, more economically resilient and more socially beneficial beef industry.
Its members include McDonalds and WWF globally, and in Australia include the Cattle Council of Australia, ComGroup and Meat & Livestock Australia.
The organisation’s executive director Ruaraidh Petre said the aim to reduce net warming impacts of beef would put it on a pathway to “climate neutrality”.
To do this, GRSB members would “implement and incentivise climate smart beef production, processing, and trade, while safeguarding and building upon the carbon stores in soil and landscapes”, he said.
“The world relies on beef and the industry relies on a healthy world to produce it,” he said.
“That’s why there is growing momentum in the industry to protect and nurture the earth’s natural resources.
“The conversation around beef sustainability is more important now than ever, and we recognise the need for beef to be more environmentally sound, more socially responsible, and more economically viable.
“Our goals are ambitious, and we may not yet have all the solutions to achieve them. By focusing our efforts, we aim to inspire research and investment in science and innovation that will unlock their potential impact.”
MORE
Dorpers average almost $5000, White Suffolks break records
A lack of labour is one of the reasons behind sky rocketing demand for Dorpers in country south of Broken Hill. See the top ram sale results for the past week.
Red meat targets falling short
Almost half of Australians are not convinced livestock producers raise cattle and sheep in a humane way, a survey by MLA shows.