Meat, Methane, and Mealworms

When we discuss American culture and experience, it is almost impossible to exclude the American love of meat.  Bacon is a staple of both breakfast and popular culture, barbecues proudly feature hamburgers and hotdogs, while football and baseball require a host of other meat dishes, including nachos, chili dogs, and hot wings.  Though at first glance these habits might seem innocent and rich in protein, with especially unhealthy treats saved for special occasions, studies of America’s meat consumption tell a different story.  Americans have long been one of the world’s largest meat consumers per capita, and this figure has only risen over the past several decades.  While data shows that this rate of consumption has a significant negative impact on personal health and well being, American meat consumption also deals a devastating blow to the environment that many Americans are not aware of.  Between its contribution to climate change, water shortages, and the mismanagement of global, the effects of widespread meat production are enough to change vegetarianism into a practical lifestyle, and perhaps enough to change American dietary culture.  

America has been consistently ranked one of the highest consumers of meat per capita for the last century. (Photo Credits)

A combination of farming practices and external factors, such as the distribution and shipping of meat products, significantly contribute to toxic greenhouse gas emissions.  Worldwide, industrial animal agriculture contributes to nearly fifteen percent of greenhouse gas emissions; the United States alone accounts for nine percent of this figure.  Raising cattle, more than any other animal commonly raised for meat in the United States, is especially detrimental.  Cows naturally release large amount of methane, or CH4, during the digestive process.  Methane, while not as devastating as carbon dioxide over time, is up to eight-four more potent for the first two decades after it has been released.  Methane is also produced when animal manure, from cows or other farm animals, or other synthetic fertilizers are stored for long periods of time.  Indeed, the massive resources required to produce a single hamburger highlight the incredible waste and inefficiency of global, and American, meat production.  

The production of livestock, specifically cattle, involves tremendous resources, even for the smallest servings. (Photo Credits)

As referenced in the graphic above from NPR, a whopping 52.8 gallons of water are required to produce a mere quarter-pound of hamburger meat.  Indeed, a large proportion of this figure comes from the inefficient use of water in the production of animal feed, and it is estimated that nearly twenty-seven percent of the world’s fresh water sources are dedicated to meat and dairy production.  With so many people around the world suffering from water scarcity, and this number of the rise in the face of changing global temperatures and weather patterns, it is clear that this misuse of fresh water cannot continue.

In addition to water concerns, the meat production system also raises questions about land use, and whether or not the amount of land taken up by livestock, and crops used exclusively to feed these animals, represent a widespread mismanagement of global arable land in the face of growing populations.  Livestock around the world consume upwards of forty percent of produced grain.  In the United States alone this accounts for enough grain to feed 800 million people, or raise the United States trade balance $80 billion, annually.  While some may see raising crops for animal consumption as a key component of raising animals, studies show that if Americans produced exclusively grass-fed meat and dairy products, individual Americans would still consume more than the daily recommended amounts of these products.

Given all the environmental concerns surrounding traditional meat production, greenhouse gas emissions, and inefficient water and land usage, many point to other sources of protein as the future of nutrition.  Already integrated in the diets of over two billion people across Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Central Africa, insects are high in protein and other nutrients and their production is environmentally friendly.  By the numbers, the average insect is nearly half protein when dried, still others can weigh in at 75% protein in their whole, natural form. While, an American favorite, dried beef, is about 50 percent protein.  Besides protein, these crawly critters are high in essential fatty acids such as omega-3s, not to mention a wide array of essential vitamins.

Many insects, including crickets, provide a much healthier alternative to traditional livestock. (Photo Credits)

While the idea of eating insects may seem too disgusting to overcome the health benefits, the environmental evidence supporting insect farming is overwhelming.  Insects, obviously, require far less land and water than traditional livestock, and emit far fewer harmful greenhouse gases.  Per kilogram, crickets produce up to one hundred times less methane and nitrous oxide than pigs, in addition to twelve times less anomia.

Many startups across the United States have already began exploring how insect protein will do in our markets. Six Foods, a snack food company started by Harvard roommates in 2013, is trying to subtly introduce insect protein our diets through cricket flour. Their most popular product, Chirp Chips, are made from just that and come in three tempting flavors: aged cheddar, hickory barbecue and sea salt.  While a change is American culture from chicken to crickets may be far off in the future, it is clear that, in order to combat climate change and world population growth, the industrialized farming of livestock will have to see dramatic changes in the coming years.  The sooner Americans begin to make these changes, the sooner we can reverse detrimental environmental damages, and, maybe, explore a more adventurous blend of cuisines.   

4 thoughts on “Meat, Methane, and Mealworms

  1. Before reading this post, I knew a little about the inefficiency of meat production and a little about rich protein and nutrient contained in insects, but I have never connected these two things together. It was kind of mind-blowing to see you tying up the consumption of insects together with meat production. Although I wouldn’t want to eat insects (I despise them), but your argument and statistics were very convincing, and I do think people need to start exploring new options for food because the processes of producing variety of food take up a large portion of greenhouse gas production and air pollution.
    If the Crisp Chips that you mentioned do not smell or taste weird, maybe, just maybe, I will try sometimes. In addition, I have heard about McDonald’s using minced earthworms as a major part of the ingredients for their “beef” patty before. I’m not 100% and still don’t want to believe it, but if no one has tasted the differences and if earthworms are more rich in nutrients and environment-friendly, then that decision might not have been a bad one. (And certainly it’s better in some way that the company did not reveal the secret that might ruin their future)

  2. This post was very interesting for me to read, especially since I was unaware of the environmental effects that the meat industry had before reading this post. You hear about carbon dioxide emissions from cars being a leading factor in climate change, but I was completely unaware that the meat industry was also a major contributor. It was also shocking to discover the inefficiency of manufacturing meat since it is largely assumed that it is a simple process. After reading this post, it is making me wonder if the meat industry is really worth it.

  3. I was admittedly completely unaware of the inefficiencies in the meat production industry, so this post was pretty interesting and informative. I had no idea that CO2 emissions were the result of some meat production practices. With CO2 emissions being such a widely debated topic in American politics, it is surprising that this is not more universally known. Hopefully, meat production companies can find more eco-friendly methods of making their final product.

  4. As a cattle producer your figures are so off the market it is incredible . The amount of water you are talking about is literally impossible in the Australian climate – one of the biggest cattle producers in the world . As. A southern Australian producer we allow our animals to eat this strange stuff called grass producing with no fertiliser inputs some of the best beef in the world .
    Stupidity of insects that in most production facilities in the US had dangerous levels of pathogens is crazy .
    What needs to happen with the cattle industry is a move on from old greedy practices

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