This story was originally published byGrist.
As such, theres an astonishing amount of time and money beingfunneled into emission control.
On-farm biodigesters, for example, take a back-end approach byharvesting methanewafting from manure pits.
Photo: Jens Schlueter (Getty Images)
Yet they beg the question: Wouldnt it be easier toditch milk, cheeseand beef for plant-based alternatives?
Why fight nature when theres an easier solution, at least from a scientific perspective?
Achieving a cheeseburger-free America faces formidable challenges.
We need a comprehensive combination of strategies to achieve a truly sustainable future, he said.
We cant just cherry-pick our way to get there.
The nations taste for meat and dairy is undeniable.
Theres a fundamental disconnect, though, between our growing demand for animal-based protein and its enormous carbon footprint.
The nations92 million cattlegenerate4 percentof the countrys total greenhouse gases and account for 40 percent of all agricultural emissions.
However, if those herds were to magically disappear, it wouldnt eliminate the problem entirely.
Larger discussions around sustainability tend to overlook these complexities, said White.
While balanced choices can work for individuals, keeping the country adequately fed and healthy is a complicated endeavor.
Several dietary supplements have been shown to minimize bovine bloating.
But having a transformative impact will require industrial-scale production and implementation.
Ultimately, tinkering with the animals digestive system may hold the most scalable answer.
Their mission launched earlier this year, funded by the TED Audacious Project.
Even as science tries making cows more climate-friendly, the tide of consumption has seen a steady shift.
Otherwise, it just makes the matter alienating and polarizing.
This article originally appeared inGristathttps://grist.org/agriculture/why-cant-we-just-quit-cows/.
Grist is a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future.
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