Beef Sustainability: Balancing Environmental, Social, and Economic Impacts
Sustainability is not a destination. It is a continuous journey being carried out by each generation of farmers responsible for raising and supplying beef across the world. To the beef community, sustainability comprises much more than environmental considerations. Today, a sustainable food supply balances efficient production with environmental, social and economic impacts.
Let's take a look at how the beef industry continually focuses on a more sustainable food supply.
beyond the Beef
Here are a few ways in which cattle by-products touch our lives:
- Hides from cattle are tanned into leather becoming shoes, purses and wallets.
- Cattle organs and glands are used in the production of medicine, insulation, and antifreeze, shampoos/conditioners and instrument strings.
- Photo film, vitamin capsules, charcoal and glass are all derived from bones and horns of cattle.
- Inedible beef fat provides us with airplane lubricants, hydraulic brake fluid, biodiesel and medicines.
Your Role in Sustainability
You also have opportunities to contribute to a more sustainable food supply. Approximately one-third of all food produced for human consumption in the world is lost or wasted. The food an average American family wastes translated to about $2,500 per year. According to the USDA, beef is one of the least wasted foods, with 20 percent spoiled or not eaten, but that still leaves a lot of room for improvement! If beef waste were cut in half, the sustainability of the whole industry could be improved by 10 percent. Consider how you'll use leftovers and make sure your appliances are running efficiently. Also, make sure to check out our tips for safely storing and preparing beef at home.
BEEF QUALITY ASSURANCE AND CHEFS
The journey to deliver high-quality and safe beef requires collaboration from pasture to plate. At each step of the process — from the beef farmers and ranchers who raise beef and abide by Beef Quality Assurance standards to the chefs and restauranteurs who prepare beef in their restaurants - there is a strong commitment to delivering high-quality beef that consumers love. That’s why Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. in partnership with Chef’s Roll brought beef farmers and ranchers together with chefs. This video series takes chefs across the beef lifecycle to get a first-hand look at the care that goes into creating high-quality beef. But the journey for quality beef doesn’t stop at the farm.
Keep Exploring:
Cattlemen and the Environment
Beef is produced using fewer resources than before. Ranchers work hard to feed a growing population, while reducing water use, care for the land, and protect the environment.
Beef Production
The journey of raising beef is among the most complex of any food. Learn more about the process of raising beef from farm to fork.
Grass vs Grain
All cattle spend most of their lives eating grass on pastures but beef can be finished in a variety of ways. Explore the different ways cattle are finished.
Health and Wellness
The nutrients in beef provide our bodies with the strength to thrive throughout all stages of life. Learn more about beef’s nutrients below.
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