Comments on: Grassfed Beef Can SOLVE Global Warming

By: Dawn Gifford

Dawn Gifford — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 04:40:26 +0000

Hi, thanks for commenting!

The carbon emissions you mention will continue to exist as long as we have centralized, industrial production of our food. The carbon emissions for producing, processing, freezing, transportation, distribution, retail, etc. exist for almost all the food we eat currently. In fact, the industrial production of inedible crops meant for processing—like soy, corn and palm oil—is more environmentally devastating than the production of any other food I can think of.

The only way around this is to eat as locally as is possible, given the climate you live in. Local grassfed, rotationally-grazed meat, eggs and dairy can be produced anywhere there is grass. (It is increasingly common to find them at farm markets across the nation.) In fact, meat and dairy is the sometimes the only food that can be produced on Vermont’s steep, rocky land, and the state has a thriving dairy industry because of it.

Best,
Dawn aka Small Footprint Mama

By: Samuel Kaymen

Samuel Kaymen — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:58:22 +0000

One item not addressed: Since most of the population in the US is a graet distance from the grasslands; What about the carbon emission from the processing, freezing, transportation, distribution, retail marketing , freezing and packaging, etc. I would really like to see the numbers on this externality. Thank you.

By: Top 10 Small Footprint Posts of 2009

Top 10 Small Footprint Posts of 2009 — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 10:04:22 +0000

[...] Grassfed Beef Can SOLVE Global Warming – This is my personal favorite post, and I spent a great deal of time researching and writing [...]

By: AWA

AWA — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:22:22 +0000

Here’s a blog we just posted on the same topic.

http://www.animalwelfareapproved.org/2009/11/16/beware-of-bad-science/

By: Dawn Gifford

Dawn Gifford — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 03:49:15 +0000

Thanks for commenting! I am seldom so direct, but I have to say that it is patently false that grassfed beef emits more greenhouse gases than corn-fed feedlot beef. The blog post you reference has omitted critical information in understanding how raising grassfed beef properly is not only greener than feedot beef, but if done using the best agroecological methods, can actually remediate global warming by sequestering tons of carbon. Even the commenters in your link point out this fact. Additionally grasslands need grazers for both to be healthy. For reference, please consult the sources listed at the bottom of my article, in particular the Scientific American article and the United Nations IPCC study. Also please see the recent op-ed in the New York Times called "The Carnivore's Dilemma". Each explains in different ways why the carbon footprint of grass-fed beef is not only significantly smaller than grain-fed, but can also often be smaller than that of the average vegetarian diet too. Best, Dawn @ Small Footprint Family

By: donny

donny — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:37:14 +0000

Grain-fed beef produces less greenhouse gases than grass-fed beef.
That pretty much sinks the idea of sustainable beef.

http://fanaticcook.blogspot.com/2009/02/grass-fed-cattle-have-bigger-carbon.html

By: Diet and Weight Loss

Diet and Weight Loss — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:50:17 +0000

The global warming has happened in the past few years and is evident from the rise in mean temperature of the earth’s atmosphere. The main causes for the global warming are attributed to release of green house gases by human activities. The main gases contributing to green house effect are carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane and nitrous oxide. The largest producers of these gases are the thermal power plants, which burn the fossil fuels and produce these gases in large quantities. The second biggest sources of these green house gases are the road vehicles and industries.

By: Fight Back Friday October 16th | Food Renegade

Fight Back Friday October 16th | Food Renegade — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 03:41:00 +0000

[...] Investigation) 9. Bonnie–Changes Easier than Expected10. Jessie (Feed Me, See More)11. Dawn @ Small Footprint Family – Grassfed Beef Can SOLVE Global Warming12. Michelle (Health Food Lover)–(Homemade Fermented Tabasco Sauce) 13. Dr. Ayala (remedies [...]

By: Dawn Gifford

Dawn Gifford — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:07:02 +0000

Thanks for this link!! I look forward to learning more about this. I am so glad there are classes on this too so farmers who want to transition to grass farming with livestock can do so.

By: ethanappleseed

ethanappleseed — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:48:20 +0000

Thanks Dawn! Excellent article.

Have you seen the work that Carbon Farming Tennessee is doing? They just hosted the first Carbon Farming Course last month, and are piloting a new Community-Supported Research Initiative to gather grassroots (literally!) data. Check it out over at http://carbonfarming.wordpress.com