New Zealand plans to charge cattle burps to cut emissions
Cow and sheep burps are huge emitters of methane — which is over 80 times more efficient than CO2 at trapping heat in the atmosphere. But while livestock is the main contributor to the agriculture sector’s emissions, they are often excluded from emissions trading plans. Soon, that will no Read More...
4 policy strategies to reduce the environmental cost of meat
Many food systems have a detrimental effect on the environment, especially when it comes to the cattle industry. Cheap meat does not reflect its true price when it comes to its negative cost to our planet. So how can we bring meat products up to their true cost without hurting the pockets of the Read More...
Fed up with the meatpacking industry, ranchers are returning to small and local
Choosing local and regenerative meat options is a way for those who choose to eat meat to do so as sustainably as possible, but in the US, where 75 percent of beef is processed by four companies (JBS, Tyson, Cargill, and National Beef Packing Co), buying local can be difficult. Consumers aren’t Read More...
MooLoo mitigates the climate impact of cattle with potty training
Farming cattle is known to be a big contributor to greenhouse gas emissions due to their methane-releasing belches and farts. On top of that, their urine and feces combine to produce ammonia, which is converted into nitrous oxide by microbes in the soil. To mitigate some of the climate impacts Read More...
Zelp makes methane-reducing masks for cows
We at The Optimist Daily have written extensively about the numerous ways in which the beef and dairy industry can clean up their act with solutions like seaweed-supplemented feeds and plant-based food alternatives. These days, veganism and vegetarianism are gaining more popularity as we become Read More...
New climate calculator aims to help ranchers reduce emissions
Cattle are a huge source of methane emissions, but strategic livestock management can help ranchers use their land to offset their emissions with carbon capture and regenerative practices. Taking these sustainable livestock management steps just got a bit easier as food sustainability company DSM Read More...
Why painting eyes on the buttocks of cows can save them from predators
Being a cattle-owning farmer in Botswana is no easy feat. To keep their animals safe from hungry predators like lions, ranchers in the region often have to use costly fencing to separate the cattle from the carnivores, and sometimes the farmers may even kill the predators. But a new study shows Read More...