Environmental, social, and economic footprints of current and past beef production systems

Authors

K.R. Stackhouse-Lawson, National Cattlemen's Beef Association
J. O. Reagan, National Cattlemen's Beef Association
B. J. Isenberg, USDA-ARS
E. J. Pollak, USDA-ARS-NPAFollow
T. Battagliese, BASF Corporation
B. Ulhman, BASF Corporation
C. Barcan, BASF Corporation
I. Schulze, BASF Corporation
J. Silva, BASF Corporation
C. A. Rotz, USDA-ARS

Date of this Version

2013

Document Type

Article

Citation

J.W. Oltjen et al. (eds.), Energy and Protein metabolism and nutrition is sustainable animal protection , EAAP publication No. 134

Comments

U.S. Government Work

Abstract

The beef industry has defined sustainability as meeting the growing demand for beef by balancing environmental responsibility, economic opportunity, and social diligence. Measuring sustainability is challenging, as the beef supply chain is one of the most complex food systems in the world. As the first and largest research project of this kind, this study represents an innovative approach toward creating a more sustainable beef product. Our objective is to establish a sustainability baseline (including environmental, economic, and social footprints) for the US beef industry by quantifying life cycle inputs and outputs for beef production over time.