Greenhouse gases from human activities, especially agriculture, have been the biggest driver of climate change since the mid-20th century. The U.S. beef industry alone contributes 3.3% of the country’s total emissions. Although the industry has made progress in reducing emissions over the past 50 years, the complex supply chain remains a challenge. New research from the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment (IonE) and The Nature Conservancy, published in Nature Food, offers practical steps to cut U.S. beef industry emissions by up to 30%.
The study, led by Rylie Pelton, is the first to assess the beef industry’s environmental impact at the county level. It found that the U.S. beef industry emits nearly 258 million metric tons of greenhouse gases annually. Emissions from feed production are concentrated in the Great Plains and Midwest, while grazing emissions are spread more evenly across the West. The research identified 42 alternative practices—such as cover cropping, feed additives, and energy management—that could reduce emissions by nearly a third.
Pelton emphasized that the beef supply chain is one of the most complex in the country, making it hard for processors to find ways to cut emissions. The study provides specific recommendations based on regional characteristics. For instance, adding trees to pasturelands in the Southeast or restoring wetlands in the Northern Great Plains could help store more carbon.
Kris Johnson, co-author and director of The Nature Conservancy’s North America Agriculture program, stressed that sustainability must become a standard practice in the beef industry to ensure long-term food production, economic security for ranchers, and a healthy environment. The research expands on IonE’s FoodS3 model, which evaluates the sustainability of food supply chains. Jennifer Schmitt, FoodS3 research lead, noted that this is the first publication with location-specific data on emissions from the animal stage of the supply chain, offering transparency and actionable steps for the industry to reduce its carbon footprint.
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