The world-leading sustainability efforts of U.S. farmers and ranchers are highlighted in the latest Sustainability Impact Report from the Animal Agriculture Alliance.
The report provides the most recent data on the nutritional benefits of meat, milk, poultry, and eggs and details U.S. animal agriculture’s achievements in environmental stewardship, animal care, judicious antibiotic use, and food safety.
Highlights include:
- From 1944 to 2007, U.S. dairy farmers decreased their overall carbon footprint by 63%. Their commitment to continuous improvement in environmental stewardship helped them reduce their carbon footprint an additional 19% from 2007 to 2017
- Between 1961 and 2018, the U.S. beef community, through continued sustainability efforts and improved resource use, reduced emissions per pound of beef produced by more than 40% while also producing more than 66% more beef per animal
- The U.S. pork community reduced land use by 76% and water use by 25% from 1960 to 2015, producing more pork today with a smaller carbon footprint per pound
- Compared to 1960, America’s egg farmers have made significant strides in minimizing their environmental impact with the help of technological advancements and improved animal husbandry practices. They have reduced their water use by 32% and their carbon footprint by 71%
Hannah Thompson-Weeman, Alliance vice president, strategic engagement and incoming president and CEO, said, “The Sustainability Impact Report clearly demonstrates the unique nutrition and food security benefits of meat, milk, poultry, and eggs and the success of efforts to continuously improve animal agriculture’s contributions to a healthy environment.”