The cattle raising it is highly criticized in the last decades. It is blamed for being one of the causes of climate change and global warming. And this was repeated at the last World Economic Forum in Davos (Switzerland), held between January 17 and 20, 2023.
There it was achieved not eat more than two (finite) hamburgers per week to “save” the planet of climate change. But what they did not say is that this criticism of livestock and meat consumption occurs in a context of growth and development of world industrial production derived from the burning of fossil fuels in recent decades.
Let’s go by parts: Most of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions come from industrial activity, such as electricity, manufacturing, construction and transportation. This type of production, by being based on the burning of fossil fuels, generates changes in the environment. This is given, to great characteristics, because the carbon dioxide produced by the industry remains in the atmosphere for several years and accumulates over the centuries. It is the main driver of global warming and climate change.
Quality and sustainability, the axes of the promotion of Argentine meat in Paris
But what does a livestock production like that of our country have to do with the growth of industrial production derived from the burning of fossil fuels? nothing! Argentine livestock is based on extensive production. What does that mean? That our beef production consists primarily of feeding natural pastures and pastures to “cows”, differentiating itself from many of the world’s beef producers.
Vacations in Argentina are part of the natural ecosystem. They participate in the natural carbon cycle through photosynthesis.
And the story begins like this: the cows are fed through the consumption of pastures and natural pastures. These natural grasses and pastures have taken carbon from the air as part of the natural ecosystem through photosynthesis.
Cows digest carbon and grass, removing methane into the atmosphere. The methane emitted by animals is “made” based on carbon from the grass that the cows consumed and lasts for 10 to 12 years in the atmosphere. After that time, the methane is transformed into water and carbon dioxide, which is naturally absorbed through photosynthesis by the pastures. And this is how the cycle repeats itself over and over again. It is the natural cycle of nature. Argentine livestock is part of a carbon dioxide sequestration process towards the earth.
The most important thing is that cows are not producing more carbon into the atmosphere, Rather, through photosynthesis and feeding, they contribute to the natural carbon cycle, transforming vegetable protein unfit for human consumption into animal protein of high biological value, suitable for human consumption. Therefore, there is nothing new generated by livestock farming other than premium quality animal protein for the world’s population.
For this reason, the recommendation of the Davos Forum, not to eat more than two (finite) hamburgers per week to “save” the planet from climate change is a “fake news” in our country.
Livestock and global warming
Can you continue to blame Argentine livestock as one of the causes of global warming? Not.
It’s very important support and bet as a country on livestock production because it has a preponderant and fundamental role in the natural cycle of nature and its regeneration. For everyone: the planet, animals and humans.
Let’s keep eating hamburgers that sustainably produced meat is not to blame but a great tool for the regeneration of this planet in which we live!
*Department of Internal Promotion of the Institute for the Promotion of Argentine Beef (IPCVA)
You may also like
