We Can Balance Burgers and Biosphere
Integrated data supply chains can turn the beef industry into a sustainability leader, says Rob Waterworth, Chief Science and Innovation Officer at FLINTpro.
At the heart of the agricultural sector lies a pressing challenge: how can we feed a growing global population while addressing climate change and ensuring environmental stewardship? This challenge has tested policymakers, investors, farmers and consumers for decades. But we are rapidly approaching the point where a solution is not only of interest but vital to our future.
Nowhere is this challenge greater than in the beef industry, which represents one of the most diverse agricultural production systems in the world. Unlike other agricultural commodities, livestock are raised across a vast range of environments, from sparse dry grassland regions to lush pastures and intensive feedlots. Cattle can be reared on naturally available feed (at times with supplemental feeding), graze on crop residues, or consume crops grown specifically as feed. The land used for grazing may or may not have been deforested, altered from its original state, or grazed for centuries. To add further complexity, animals often move several times during their lives, with each location having a different history and impact on the environment.
Over the past year, the industry has come under renewed focus, especially with the implications of new rules like the EU Deforestation Regulation, an increased focus on reporting and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and expanded requirements for biodiversity and other impact reporting under new regulations. Given this, it’s an opportune moment to examine this complex interplay and explore how innovative solutions can integrate nature’s value into sustainable growth plans.
The environmental cost of common commodities
Beef production, like most agricultural commodities, has often, but not always, come at the cost of the environment, particularly forests. Deforestation for grazing has occurred for centuries, with global concerns first arising in the 1980s, driven by the conversion of tropical forests to grazing land, primarily in Latin America. But this issue was truly global, with countries like Australia clearing over 500,000 hectares per year in the 1980s and 1990s. While the past two decades have seen a shift to greater clearing for other crops (for example, oil palm), beef production continues to be a significant driver of deforestation, including producing crops used to feed cattle.
In addition to driving deforestation, beef production is a large contributor to climate change, primarily through methane production. However, under certain conditions and management practices, it can have positive benefits on soil carbon. Poor grazing practices can damage land through soil compaction, introduction and promotion of invasive weed species, and soil erosion. Nearly all of these can be addressed, and the damage from past actions can be reversed with regenerative management practices and reforestation, in many cases. However, this requires dedication backed by actionable information and ongoing improvements in practices.
The role of accountable data
These farms can span multiple jurisdictions, complicating efforts to trace and manage environmental impact. Cattle often move between farms, meaning that the time they spend on sustainably managed land can vary over their lives. In addition, cattle often graze out of sight beneath vegetation, making tracking and mapping a challenge.
Given the span and complexity of the industry, it may appear that these challenges are simply too great to deal with. From a purely environmental perspective, the necessary data needs could indeed appear impossible. The cost alone would be prohibitive, and the time required to implement the systems would prevent action for at least a decade.
Fortunately, many of the data and operational systems we need are already in place in many countries for other reasons. For example, biosecurity systems, vital to the health of the industry, have evolved over decades to the point where in many countries individual animals can be tracked throughout the supply chain.
Additionally, more farmers are moving towards electronic farm management software to efficiently collect and share key management practices. Remote sensing technologies, already used to estimate important production factors like pasture biomass, can also provide valuable time-series information for numerous metrics over huge areas of land. Technologies for calculating weight gain and tracking animals using GPS systems within farms provide detailed information that can guide management practices. Even more relevant information is collected at sale yards and slaughterhouses.
Leveraging these existing systems is the solution. Many groups are already actively working on bringing together information from these systems to guide changes in practices to maximise both productivity and sustainability. This ‘integrated data supply chain’ runs parallel to the physical supply chain, empowering organisations to incorporate transparent, accountable environmental data into their sustainability strategies. These new integrated data tools allow users to better understand and manage the impact of their supply chains, ensuring that the true value of nature is factored into their economic growth models. This is particularly crucial as the industry grapples with Scope 3 emissions – those indirect emissions that occur within a company’s supply chain, which are a significant concern for the livestock sector. By leveraging accurate, actionable data, companies can make informed decisions that balance profitability with ecological responsibility, meeting consumer and investor demands while being stewards of the environment.
The road to a sustainable future
The beef industry has the potential to lead a transformative shift toward sustainable economic growth. Industry leaders are already advancing new management systems backed by the best available science, while also investing in new science and data to further refine their practices. By enhancing these existing systems with new tools and models, it’s possible to quickly develop a new suite of actionable insights – all built on reliable and credible data. These data will allow groups to reduce climate risks and redefine their relationship with natural capital, ensuring that future growth respects and preserves the environment.
Sustainable beef production is quickly moving from a nice-to-have to an industry necessity. Fortunately, by integrating cutting-edge data tools into their operations, forward-thinking companies can begin to pave the way for a future where economic development and environmental stewardship go hand in hand.
The journey is complex, but with strong partnerships, innovation and commitment, it’s a path that holds substantial rewards for our economies and our planet.
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