SUSTAINABILITY UPDATE

Cattle Production Exemplifies a Sustainable Approach

The topic of sustainability is one that the cattle industry has discussed for some time and with mixed response. But what remains steadfast is the love cattlemen and women have for their animals and affinity for taking care of the land. Producers have seen the articles and media claiming cattle production is the root cause of climate change and must be more sustainable to save the planet. There are presentations on consumer expectations, political ramifications, media hype and more. Every speaker has their own approach, their own appeal, and many times, their own science or facts. These inconsistencies in messaging around the topic of sustainability led to mixed reactions from consumers and bold statements from politicians who seem to power far too much of this discussion. The convergence of consumer opinions and political maneuvering was the tipping point for NCBA leadership to commit to stepping into the sustainability conversation in a big way and use this focus as an opportunity to tell the excellent story farmers and ranchers have to share.

“We work hard to protect our natural resources, and it does not sit well when our own commitment is questioned,” said NCBA CEO Colin Woodall. “Our connection and dependence on natural resources is the reason we must lead and tackle sustainability head-on. Regardless of how you feel about climate change and sustainability, the issue is not going away.” As part of its strategic plan, NCBA leaders asked members to really dig into sustainability and recognize the strategic nature of the industry charting its own course on this subject rather than playing defense against more rules, regulations and restrictions. This strategic focus led to the organization of a grassroots, producer-led task force with the directive of setting cattle industry sustainability goals. On Aug. 12, during the 2021 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show, producers solidified U.S. cattle ranchers’ commitment to environmental, economic and social sustainability with the release of U.S. cattle industry sustainability goals. Beef producers in the U.S. are already the global leaders in sustainable beef production. Setting these goals further enhances the sustainability of the U.S. food system and • Demonstrate climate neutrality of U.S. cattle production by 2040.

• Create and enhance opportunities that result in a quantifiable increase in producer profitability and economic sustainability by 2025. • Enhance trust in cattle producers as responsible stewards of their animals and resources by expanding educational opportunities in animal care and handling programs to further improve animal well-being. • Continuously improve our industry's workforce safety and well-being. “Cattlemen and women have demonstrated their commitment to sustainability for generations,” said Marty Smith, a Florida cattleman and NCBA past president. “They work tirelessly to protect the land, water and air resources in their care. Through countless improvements in genetics, grazing management, manure handling and the adoption of many other technologies, this is just the next step on our industry’s path. Producers deserve recognition for their use of cutting-edge practices and technologies that minimize environmental impact. By setting goals, we’re publicly committing to continuous improvement and setting targets that allow us to measure and document those efforts.”

Environmental Science and Sustainability

First comes the stewardship of natural resources. Environmentally, the goal is to "demonstrate the climate neutrality of U.S. cattle production by 2040”. The U.S. already produces the most sustainable beef in the world as a result of decades of improvement and innovation. In fact, beef production in the U.S. has a carbon footprint 10 to 50 times lower than other regions of the world, and according to the Environmental Protection Agency, greenhouse gas from beef cattle only represents 2 percent of emissions in the U.S. “The focus here is demonstrating climate neutrality which means minimal or no effect on acceleration of warming in the atmosphere,” said Jason Sawyer, an associate professor and researcher at the King Ranch Institute at Texas A&M. “Managing methane along with ways ranchers can reduce emissions and sequester carbon become the priorities within the goal.” A point regarding the environmental goal members of the task force stressed is that it is rooted in science and based, in part, on modeling conducted by Sawyer. The 2040 target is based on an annual methane reduction of 1.5 percent per year. Continued on page 20

Sawyer noted that methane emissions from livestock cannot be completely eliminated, and cattle have an advantage over other proteins by taking and converting forage into high-quality protein. “Methane cannot go to zero without removing beef production totally,” he said. “So, elimination of methane is not the goal; managing it is the goal.” While the metrics used to determine climate neutrality are still being determined and there is still a need for research in this space, Sawyer said that current technologies producers employ like feed additives and improved genetics can mitigate methane emissions and advancements in these technologies will increase. Continued efforts to increase carbon sequestered over the landscape of grazing lands will also make a positive impact.

Economic Sustainability and Stewardship The next pillar addresses economic sustainability and the important recognition that cattle producers cannot afford to see their operations choked out by burdensome regulations. NCBA is seeking to boost producer profitability and economic sustainability by 2025. To truly set the scene of how this could impact producers from an economic standpoint it is important to remember that sustainability is on the mind of a lot of people these days. More and more consumers are asking questions about where their food comes from and the impact it has on the climate. While the number asking those questions are still a minority among the total population, they are extremely vocal, and their numbers will grow. The vocal nature of these consumers, and the amplification of their message by activist groups, has the attention of retailers, restaurants, bankers and political leaders. Retailers and restaurant companies are looking at ways to demonstrate their commitment to the environment to both customers and corporate shareholders. Banks and lenders are considering whether they should factor sustainable practices into the loans they make. “These are the reasons why the issue is not going away,” Woodall said. “NCBA had a choice to make – either take a leadership role or be relegated to playing defense for years to come. Through the action on our strategic plan, we chose to lead.” For NCBA, leading on this issue means making it clear that the only way we make this work is by casting an eye towards creating opportunities for producer profitability and long-term success. If the industry’s work on sustainability harms the financial sustainability of farms and ranches, then the whole discussion of the industry’s positive impact on the environment is moot. “We must do everything we can to keep your operation viable for future generations,” Woodall said. “If we cannot keep you on the land, who is going to take your place? Doubtful it will be somebody who will care for the land the way you do. For many closer to suburban areas, it means there is a high probability that developers put houses on that land. If we are going to have an honest conversation about sustainability, policy makers and consumers need to understand this. Yes, profit seems to be a negative word these days, but talking about preservation of nature and greenspace will help us make the point of why we need to stay on the land.” Sustainability of Our Communities Consumers are pushing hard for sustainability in their food, but NCBA research and focus groups have determined most consumers still struggle to define what sustainability means. It is important to recognize that 62 percent of consumers say they find cattle producers credible, but 70 percent of consumers surveyed said they are not familiar with how cattle are raised. Further, when consumers were asked to define what sustainability means, they first cited animal welfare followed by environmental aspects. This insight is why the final pillar covers social sustainability, with goals focused on increasing trust in cattle producers as stewards, demonstrating strong animal welfare practices and expanding programs such as Beef Quality Assurance (BQA). These gaps in consumers’ knowledge and their high level of trust in livestock producers means they’re poised to be educated on sustainability and that there’s room for cattle producers to take control of the storyline to demonstrate their sustainability efforts. The focus on animal welfare presents an opportunity to continue expanding the recognition of animal care certifications like the BQA program. “The goals show that U.S. cattle producers are committed and accountable,” said Mike Williams, a task force member and cattle producer from California. “I am a BQA-certified producer and know that our responsibility to the animals in our care is vital. BQA’s guidelines, in combination with experience and environment-specific needs, help farmers and ranchers ensure animal welfare through daily husbandry and animal care. This is key for our first social sustainability goal.” An additional social sustainability goal was set that focuses on continuously improving the industry’s workforce safety and well-being. The shared story of U.S. cattle farmers and ranchers is one of perpetual innovation and improvement. Cattlemen and women are rooted in a proud history but are constantly moving forward. Showcasing producers’ daily stewardship, protecting financial sustainability, and showcasing animal welfare standards along with a commitment to strong rural communities is how NCBA will demonstrate that the cattle industry is part of the solution, not part of the problem.

SUSTAINABILITY UPDATE