Grazed perennial grasslands can match current beef production while contributing to climate mitigation and adaptation
Randall D. Jackson
Abstract
Abstract The U.S. grain‐finished beef system is highly productive but has many negative consequences for human health and well‐being because it pollutes surface and groundwaters, exacerbates flooding, reduces biodiversity, and contributes to climate change. Moving the entire U.S. grain‐fed beef production system to a grass‐finished system is possible without displacing food production and under conservative soil carbon (C) change estimates would result in a reduced but similar C footprint, while improving soil health, water quality, and biodiversity. More optimistic estimates for soil C accumulation indicate the system would result in significant atmospheric C drawdown. Agroecological transformation like this is limited only by our imagination and policies that incentivize agriculture for the public good rather than profits for a few.