Economic Viability & Social Responsibility are Part of Sustainability Too

ECONOMIC VIABILITY AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ARE PART OF SUSTAINABILITY TOO

By Clay Burtrum, Chair of the Federation of State Beef Councils

Sustainability is certainly a hot topic these days, and most discussions revolve around environmental stewardship, but there are other aspects of sustainability to consider including economic viability and social responsibility. True sustainability is a balance of these three different but intersecting pillars, and farmers and ranchers are dedicated to producing beef in a way that prioritizes all three. Although we are hearing more about sustainability through the media and from consumers, it is not a new concept, as we have been conserving natural resources, contributing to the economy and engaging with our communities for generations. Simply put, cattle are raised sustainably in the U.S. and generate more protein for the human food supply than would exist without them.1 Additionally, the beef industry is an integral part of local communities and the national economy. Environmental sustainability encompasses biodiversity, carbon and water footprints, wildlife habitat, soil and rangeland health and the ability of cattle to utilize human inedible feeds. Cattle expand the land available for human food production and do so while enhancing natural ecosystems. This is due to their ability to upcycle human-inedible plants into high-quality protein.2 In fact, the U.S. has had the lowest beef greenhouse gas emissions intensity in the world since 1996,3 and according to the Environmental Protection Agency, greenhouse gas from beef cattle only represents 2% of emissions in the U.S.4 I have talked with producers across the country about their stewardship efforts including incorporating rotational grazing systems, developing manure management plans, utilizing solar power for remote well pumps, implementing buffers to protect waterways, providing habitat for wildlife and pollinators and countless other innovative ways they are protecting land and water while also caring for animals. Producers make decisions on a daily basis that positively impact the environment now and preserve the land and water for the future, with a goal of leaving the land better than when they started. Economic sustainability includes improving rural economies and livelihoods, maintaining the affordability of beef to consumers, and embracing profitability - allowing farmers and ranchers to continue producing high-quality beef. As our global population grows and demand for beef increases worldwide, the economic viability of our industry is critical to maintaining a sustainable food system. Annually, the beef industry contributes $167 billion in gross sales to the national economy and more than 721,000 jobs and $10.8 billion in employee compensation are supported by beef production.5 Social sustainability includes animal welfare, antibiotic and technology use, community engagement, recreational value and tourism and the culture and traditions of beef producers as farms and ranches are passed from one generation to the next. Producers are active citizens who are the cornerstone of rural America, contributing time and talents to communities by serving on school boards, volunteering at organizations and running for local elected offices. According to the 2017 Cattlemen’s Stewardship review, 78% of ranchers plan to invest in their community by passing their operation on to future generations.6 The Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program, funded by the Beef Checkoff, also impacts social sustainability by training farmers and ranchers on best practices and cattle management techniques to ensure their animals and the environment are cared for within a standard set of guidelines across the U.S. beef industry. With more than 85% of the beef supply in the U.S. today coming from a BQA certified farmer or rancher, consumers can feel good knowing there is a national program in place that sets consistent animal welfare and care standards. The three pillars of sustainability are often described as legs of a stool and if any one of them are missing, the stool will fall. Environment, economy and community work together to support a sustainable food system, and beef farmers and ranchers play a vital role in making sure all three remain healthy. Despite what you may hear through the media, remember that our industry is not the cause of climate change, but the solution for a brighter and cleaner future. You can feel confident knowing that through your daily efforts of effectively managing the land and cattle, the U.S. produces the most sustainable beef in the world and will continue to do so for generations to come.

1 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2016. Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle: Eighth Revised Edition. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi. org/10.17226/19014

2 Davies, KW, et al.Winter grazing can reduce wildfire size, intensity and behaviour in a shrub-grassland. International Journal of Wildland Fire 25(2) 191-199 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF15055 Submitted: 27 February 2015 Accepted: 16 May 2015 Published: 11 August 2015.

3 Climate Watch Data. Agriculture. Found on https://www.climatewatchdata.org/sectors/agriculture?emissionType=136&emissionsCountry=EUU&filter=#drivers-of-emissions; FAO-STAT. Emissions intensities. Found on http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/EI

4 EPA. 2019. Inventory of U. S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2017. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D. C.