Sustainability seems to be the word of the decade lately, especially in the agriculture industry. Everywhere we look, there is some activity, product, project, etc. pinned together with “sustainability”. While some would think is the overuse of an appealing word, it really makes you wonder if it is a marketing scheme, or if we are really doing the work; a fair question to be honest. But the bigger question is, what does sustainability mean anyways?
This may be hard to believe now, but there was a time when the word sustainability was not as ubiquitous as it is today. In fact, there are no books in the English language before the year 1970 that mention either “sustainable” nor “sustainability” in their text. It is only recently that the popular term has started to be used in nearly every aspect of our lives, and though the implications of the word may vary depending on the field is used, its core definition simply revolves around meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Now, despite the rapid adaptation of sustainability terminology to different mediums by the end of the 90’s and the start of the millennium, in agriculture, the concept of sustainability was still somewhat vague at this point. Early definitions denote that sustainable agriculture comprises the management of procedures that pertain to natural processes to conserve all resources. This was all done with the goal of minimizing waste and environmental impacts, preventing problems, and promoting ecosystem resilience, and the evolution and sustained production for the nourishment and fulfillment of all. Simple, right?... Maybe not.
Others went a different route and described the absence of a sustainable agriculture system as an imminent degradation of environmental resources, economical resources, machinery, materials, and any other resource that would impair the ability to continue farming. In this case, the definition is still complex, but it at least includes different aspects of agriculture, in some way or another. By this point, scientists and experts had started to break down the categories and themes that contribute to sustainable agriculture with three overarching goals being: environmental goals, social goals, and economic goals. These goals have now become the well-known three pillars of sustainability: environmental soundness, social responsibility, and economic viability.
Despite the increase in dedicated and expansive literature about the concept of sustainable agriculture and its implication on food production and climate change, the term was still broad and limited for its applications in animal agriculture. After all, animal agriculture has so many aspects that go from genetics, nutrition, animal health and welfare, financial viability, social responsibility, environmental awareness, to name a few. This presents a challenge as far as relating the concept of sustainability to a sector as complex as the livestock industry. Three pillars (i.e. environmental, economic, and social) simply fall short when it comes to animal agriculture. So, a more adaptable idea describes livestock sustainability to incorporate the following five key pillars instead: environmental stewardship, animal health and welfare, social awareness, food safety, and financial viability. Following this structure the five pillars present a well encompassing frame of work that can be more easily applied by livestock producers around the world, rather than the broader sustainability concept presented in the past. But now an even bigger question is: why should we care? Why should farmers and ranchers work on improving upon these five pillars for sustainable livestock production? Allow me to explain.
First, the demand for agricultural products is only going to increase. This means that in the 21st century, the main challenge for agriculture will be producing more food and fiber for a growing population. The problem is that this demand grows while counting on reduced natural resources, a smaller rural workforce, increasingly demanding global markets, and adapting to climate change. Quite a big task if you ask me. Additionally, as the world global population is expected to grow by over 2.3 billion people by the year 2050, 60% more food will be needed to meet the nutritional requirements of such population growth. For example, meat consumption per capita is expected to increase from 37 kg/yr to 52 kg/yr, and from 27 kg/year to 44 kg/yr in developed and developing countries, respectively. While this sounds good for business, we cannot ignore the challenges that come with a growing demand, which are all related to sustainable food production. So, the importance of sustainability simply lies in the fact that if we want to continue providing food security for future generations, we must do so by putting practices in place that will survive the test of time.
It is important to understand that food security requires both sufficient quantity and quality of food. Accounting for up to 31% of kilocalories and up to 60% of protein consumption globally, regardless of the differences in global agricultural markets, the significance of livestock in food production is irrefutable. Animal-sourced foods are an essential component of our nutrition as they are rich in essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and can be part of a healthy diet. Livestock also play a major role in the development of communities around the world, not only because of their practical utility, but also for their cultural and religious meaning. For example, in many regions, large animal species are used for draft and transportation, and in developing countries, draft animals have been identified as a significant tool in providing farm power to facilitate agricultural production, especially in remote areas inaccessible to modern machinery. This is evidence about the connection between livestock and society that is not only rooted in the culture and food production, but it also plays a significant role in rural livelihoods and economies of developing countries.
Speaking of the economy, the livestock sector provides income and employment for producers and others involved in the value chains related to animal agriculture. In the United States, cattle production is the most important agricultural industry, and in 2023, USDA forecasted cattle production to represent about 17% of the $520 billion in total cash receipts for agricultural commodities. Furthermore, the livestock industry brings a significant number of jobs to the table. In 2021, agriculture, food, and related industries contributed 5.4% to the U.S. gross domestic product and provided 10.5% of jobs in the country. Meat processing plants alone employ about a third of agriculture’s workforce in the U.S., which highlights the importance of the industry to the national economy and workforce.
One thing that many tend to forget is that the versatility of livestock extends beyond food production nowadays. Researchers have investigated the effects of grazing management on plant biodiversity. Scientists discuss the utilization of livestock grazing as a management tool to maintain high plant species richness and to counter the encroachment of tall, competitive plants. Others looked into the relative importance of cattle grazing in subtropical grasslands and report benefits from utilizing different grazing intensities to maintain biodiversity of plant species across the landscape. Moreover, with the effects of ongoing drought and an increase in wildfire risk, livestock species are used as a more practical and cost-effective alternative to control shrub growth and reduce the incidence of wildfires. In California, the annual area burned has increased four-fold since 1972, and much of these areas are rangeland, grasslands, and shrubland. Some researchers report that livestock grazing may play an important role in reducing burn probability as the state of California confronts the legacies of a century of fire suppression and the increasing impacts of climate change.
There is no doubt that the concept of sustainability can be hard to understand sometimes, and even harder to picture being practical to apply in the day-to-day routines of a real-world livestock operation. But let me ask this: Do you care about the health and welfare of your animals? Do you care about the financial viability of your business? Do you care about being a good steward of the land and the ecosystems that surround your ranch? Do you want your products to be safe to consume? And do you want to retain your workforce and provide a good working environment for them?
If your answer to all these questions was YES, which I certainly hope it is, then you care about sustainability. Better yet, if you are putting practices in place to improve in all these aspects, then you are working toward making your operation more sustainable. It is as simple as that.
Author’s note: The views expressed in this article are my own and reflect my personal perspective, professional experience, and interest in the cattle industry.
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