Kansas Livestock Association  |   November 16, 2011

Checkoff dollars are funding a new sustainability assessment to identify opportunities for continued improvement in beef cattle production practices. Previous checkoff research showed the U.S. beef industry decreased its carbon footprint 18% over the 30-year period ending in 2007, making it a model for the rest of the world.

The new project will involve partnering with BASF Corporation. BASF has created tools and initiatives to help the food industry develop more sustainable products that meet global challenges, including the need to increase overall food production by 70% over the next 40 years to feed a growing world population.

“What makes this project and our partnership with BASF unique is our holistic focus on sustainability, including not only the environmental aspects of beef production, but also the social and economic aspects of what we do,” said NCBA Senior Vice President of Research, Education and Innovation Bo Reagan.

The first step, according to Reagan, will be to work with BASF to assess stakeholder perceptions of the beef industry. BASF then will conduct a comprehensive pasture to packing plant assessment of beef production. Ensuing research projects will be developed to give producers tools to enhance the sustainability of ranches and feedyards.

For more information visit www.kla.org.