Navigating sustainability trade-offs in global beef production

Adam C. Castonguay (), Stephen Polasky, Matthew H. Holden, Mario Herrero, Daniel Mason-D’Croz, Cecile Godde, Jinfeng Chang, James Gerber, G. Bradd Witt, Edward T. Game, Brett A. Bryan, Brendan Wintle, Katie Lee, Payal Bal and Eve McDonald-Madden
Additional contact information
Adam C. Castonguay: The University of Queensland
Stephen Polasky: University of Minnesota
Matthew H. Holden: The University of Queensland
Mario Herrero: Cornell University
Daniel Mason-D’Croz: Cornell University
Cecile Godde: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
Jinfeng Chang: Zhejiang University
James Gerber: University of Minnesota
G. Bradd Witt: The University of Queensland
Edward T. Game: Asia Pacific Resource Centre
Brett A. Bryan: Deakin University
Brendan Wintle: University of Melbourne
Katie Lee: The University of Queensland
Payal Bal: University of Melbourne
Eve McDonald-Madden: The University of Queensland

Nature Sustainability, 2023, vol. 6, issue 3, 284-294

Abstract: Abstract Beef production represents a complex global sustainability challenge including reducing poverty and hunger and the need for climate action. Understanding the trade-offs between these goals at a global scale and at resolutions to inform land use is critical for a global transition towards sustainable beef. Here we optimize global beef production at fine spatial resolution and identify trade-offs between economic and environmental objectives interpretable to global sustainability ambitions. We reveal that shifting production areas, compositions of current feeds and informed land restoration enable large emissions reductions of 34–85% annually (612–1,506 MtCO2e yr−1) without increasing costs. Even further reductions are possible but come at a trade-off with costs of production. Critically our approach can help to identify such trade-offs among multiple sustainability goals, produces fine-resolution mapping to inform required land-use change and does so at the scale necessary to shift towards a globally sustainable industry for beef and to sectors beyond.

Date: 2023
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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DOI: 10.1038/s41893-022-01017-0

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