We Can Be Heroes
Heros and Villains
Ruminants, such as cattle and buffalo, have been villainized as primary contributors to climate change and the environmental crisis. The purveyors of plant-based meats cite methane and enteric emissions—belching and flatulence—from ruminants as reasons why society should flee from red meat and seek refuge in a vegan diet or only eat plant-based meats.
A deeper study of the facts reveals a different story.
Following Nature's Lead
Over thousands of years, nature designed ruminants to have a symbiotic relationship with prairie ecosystems. Grasslands thrive when buffalo disturb the grasses by grazing, fertilize the soil with their droppings, and then transport grass seeds with their fur as they roam up to five miles a day.
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It is true that grass-fed and grass-finished buffalo—like all living organisms—emit methane, but buffalo help sequester far more carbon safely underground than they emit via enteric emissions.
A study commissioned by Patagonia at Wild Idea Buffalo Co. 's home ranch showed Wild Idea's regenerative ranching practices sequester 4.5 more tons of carbon per year per acre compared to neighboring properties. This makes sense when you view the below photo that compares deep-rooted, perennial prairie grasses to the shallow-rooted annuals common in chemical-industrial agriculture.
The grasses on the left are capable of sequestering tremendous amounts of carbon. According to Rodale Institute , we can reverse climate change if we pivot from chemical-industrial agriculture to regenerative organic agriculture. After visiting Wild Idea's home ranch in South Dakota, it's clear that regenerative ranching practices help build healthy grassland ecosystems that store tons of carbon safely underground.
Plant-based meat companies typically source crops that rely on heavy tillage (tilling releases carbon to the atmosphere), toxic synthetic pesticides, and genetically modified ingredients which require chemical fertilizers to keep these shallow-rooted plants alive.
So, after studying the facts, who's the hero and who's the villain?
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2 年Phil, are going to be at the old hemlock reunion March 8-11
I build exceptional teams and set worthwhile North stars. Ex VC. Ex Bain. Human focused.
2 年First, let me say congratulations on your work! I love challenging the all-too-common rigidity of thought amongst environmentalists. I also am quite familiar with and in support of the ranching practices described. Here’s my question though, how much ruminant meat can we produce in the U.S. or globally utilizing these practices? With that dramatically reduced amount of ruminant meat available, and no identifiable method for reducing ruminant meat demand, would meat not become extremely expensive and not available to most people? I am actually a fan of this outcome, but I cannot see how it will come to pass. These practices allow us to give the rich access to carbon-free ruminant meat - which is dope, thank you from the rich community - but aren’t much of a climate solution without any realistic path to widespread adoption. Or am I missing something?
#womenonthefly
2 年YES!!!!
Founder & Creative Lead at Plural ? Partner at Cervos, The Fly, Eel Bar ? Vocals & Guitar in Hidden Cities
2 年Very insightful thank you Phil also love the Bowie/Beach Boys refs
Sr. Director - West - Basemakers
2 年A picture is worth a thousand words. ?We know the substrates going into fake meat are not native perennials. ?The ingredient deck on fake meats reads like dog kibble. There are health outcomes to consider as well. ?The carbon implication of the hospital care required to maintain a very sick population never seem to make it into the peer review. ?Not to mention health span and quality of life. ?Intuition and common sense are useful guides when our institutions are captured by big ag. ?Great post Phil!?