McDonald’s USA, Lopez Foods, and Syngenta North America have announced a partnership aimed at improving the sustainability of beef production. The initiative focuses on increasing feed efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and lowering resource consumption per pound of meat produced.
The collaboration leverages Syngenta’s Enogen® corn, a specialized feed innovation containing an alpha-amylase enzyme that enhances starch conversion to energy. Research indicates that Enogen® improves feed efficiency in cattle by approximately 5%, leading to reduced emissions intensity and improved resource utilization.
Key findings from the partnership’s Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) suggest significant environmental savings per 1,000 head of cattle:
- 196 tons (178 metric tons) CO2e in greenhouse gas reduction
- 69 acres (28 hectares) less land required for feed production
- 6 million gallons (22 million liters) less water consumed
- 231,000 kilowatt-hours of energy conserved
McDonald’s plans to scale this initiative, targeting a reduction of over 164,000 metric tons of CO2e annually across its beef supply chain. This effort aligns with the company’s science-based climate goals and its commitment to enhancing sustainability in the global food system.
