Agreed. Beef is just one part of it. I'm going to be writing a few posts on food, beef was just the first. We don't need to stop eating beef. We need to eat less of it because of it's huge ecological footprint (land, water, climate, phosphorus/nitrogen), but it is just part of a bigger system.
I roll my eyes myself when someone thinks things are solved if they just don't eat beef. I'll be getting into more of that system in my coming posts. Keep the comments coming if I miss something. I appreciate your feedback, as it helps keep me and people reading this better informed.
I agree with almost all of this but there are grasslands in the west that are maintained as grasslands by the grazing of cattle. Many species of wildlife from meadow larks, badgers, weasles and hawks rely on this habitat.
Lost in this discussion is the option of sustainable grazing (rest-rotation) on appropriate lands (non-deforested) and then eating, not "grass fed" beef, but more importantly, grass FINISHED beef. Avoiding the many downsides of feedlots.
I remember when beef was part of my life, but as my awareness grew of its destructiveness, I quit it. The lives of the animals are ghastly, another factor. Many Americans consume meat three times a day, unnecessary and unhealthy. There was a time when we ate little meat. There was a tradition of a Sunday roast. Meat was considered special. The rise of the fast food burger is a fascinating story. This article also has some stunning raw statistics on the billions of pounds of beef imported and the related devastation of the Amazon Rainforest for those interested. https://geoffreydeihl.substack.com/p/cheeseburger-freedom
I agree. The entire industrialized food system has issues, from bottom trawling the oceans to depleted soil and deforestation of our lands. That said, beef in particular is the largest problem in terms of global warming. Most of that soy is ludicrously grown for animal feed.
Regenerative agriculture needs to be the future. Not sure if you read my article or not, but I was attacking industrialized beef, not sustainable practices. And yeah, Monsanto and the like are heinous.
You are so good at doing these, Matt. Day after day or at least Friday after Friday and Monday after Monday, you hit helpful targets. Well, that sounds militaristic or guns but let's think darts instead, OK? Thank you for thinking and writing in such climate friendly ways.
Agreed. Beef is just one part of it. I'm going to be writing a few posts on food, beef was just the first. We don't need to stop eating beef. We need to eat less of it because of it's huge ecological footprint (land, water, climate, phosphorus/nitrogen), but it is just part of a bigger system.
I roll my eyes myself when someone thinks things are solved if they just don't eat beef. I'll be getting into more of that system in my coming posts. Keep the comments coming if I miss something. I appreciate your feedback, as it helps keep me and people reading this better informed.
I agree with almost all of this but there are grasslands in the west that are maintained as grasslands by the grazing of cattle. Many species of wildlife from meadow larks, badgers, weasles and hawks rely on this habitat.
Lost in this discussion is the option of sustainable grazing (rest-rotation) on appropriate lands (non-deforested) and then eating, not "grass fed" beef, but more importantly, grass FINISHED beef. Avoiding the many downsides of feedlots.
I remember when beef was part of my life, but as my awareness grew of its destructiveness, I quit it. The lives of the animals are ghastly, another factor. Many Americans consume meat three times a day, unnecessary and unhealthy. There was a time when we ate little meat. There was a tradition of a Sunday roast. Meat was considered special. The rise of the fast food burger is a fascinating story. This article also has some stunning raw statistics on the billions of pounds of beef imported and the related devastation of the Amazon Rainforest for those interested. https://geoffreydeihl.substack.com/p/cheeseburger-freedom
I agree. The entire industrialized food system has issues, from bottom trawling the oceans to depleted soil and deforestation of our lands. That said, beef in particular is the largest problem in terms of global warming. Most of that soy is ludicrously grown for animal feed.
Of course. Raising a cow in Africa for your family is far different from CAFO beef.
Regenerative agriculture needs to be the future. Not sure if you read my article or not, but I was attacking industrialized beef, not sustainable practices. And yeah, Monsanto and the like are heinous.
You are so good at doing these, Matt. Day after day or at least Friday after Friday and Monday after Monday, you hit helpful targets. Well, that sounds militaristic or guns but let's think darts instead, OK? Thank you for thinking and writing in such climate friendly ways.