Viewpoint: Fake meat is not the solution to climate change

There is an ongoing conversation about the beef industry’s contribution to the changing climate with attempts to paint alternative proteins as a solution to the problems we face as a nation. The reality is that farmers and ranchers, like me, make their living from the environment.

My family has been part of the land for six generations, and we feel the impacts of climate change and weather every day. Because of this, we, too, are committed to preserving natural resources and doing our part to make improvements. But to make real change, we must recognize that cattle farmers and ranchers are part of the solution. Every food has an impact, so simply changing from one to another will never be a productive solution.

Additionally, the science disputes the claims of alternative protein companies. The fact is, even the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that U.S. beef production has a minimal footprint when it comes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Beef production is responsible for less than 3% of U.S. GHG emissions. Even when the production of animal feed, fuel and electricity necessary for beef production is factored into the equation, it is still responsible for just 3.7% of GHG in the United States.

You’ve likely heard that U.S. livestock’s contribution to climate change is immense, thanks to individuals who use global numbers to illustrate their marketing claims. In global terms, U.S. beef cattle production counts for just 0.5% of global GHG emissions, so even if every American stopped eating beef in favor of fake meat substitutes, there would be virtually no discernable impact on our changing climate.

Ranchers' cooperation with state and local agencies on innovative grazing management strategies have sped up the return of perennial grasses to their landscape. In addition to providing the forage for beef cows, the ground cover provides wildlife habitat, adequate fuel for prescribed fires, excellent water absorption and reduces soil erosion from wind and water. Our grazing strategies and conservative stocking rates have improved profitability by decreasing labor, equipment, fuel and feed costs.  On our ranch, we also have wind energy which produces enough power for 70,000 homes.  We do all these things because it’s the right thing to do for the environment and the next generation on the ranch.

My family and the 800,000-beef farming and ranching families across the U.S. are proud to produce the best tasting, high-quality protein a consumer can eat. Everything on Earth requires the use of natural resources like land, energy and water — it’s what we do with those resources that is most important. Today, beef is produced using fewer resources than ever before. If we are serious about climate change, then let’s start by focusing on ourselves and how we can each make a difference by decreasing our personal carbon footprint before we look elsewhere to impose blame.

Chuck Coffey is from Springer, Oklahoma, and owns the Double C Cattle Co.