Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Post

An interesting read on a highly topical and important subject, “greenwashing” and its connection to the production of animal products.

🌍🛑 LOW-CARBON MEAT LABELS MISLEAD CONSUMERS WHO SEEK CLIMATE-FRIENDLY CHOICES In July last year, US meat giant Tyson Foods began retailing its Brazen Beef brand. It was the product of months of research as part of its Climate-Smart Beef Program, resulting in a beef product with a USDA-approved label stating ‘10% greenhouse gas emissions reduction’. There’s very little information about how Tyson lowered its emissions for the product, but the hope was always to convince consumers that its beef is more sustainable than the rest through its USDA ‘Low Carbon Beef’ label on packaging. And it seems it was successful, with people being successfully greenwashed into thinking they were buying climate-friendly beef. That was the consensus of a study by the University of Oklahoma, where researchers surveyed about 200 people on their attitudes and preferences on carbon labelling. The idea was that consumers aren’t usually great at estimating the emissions of animal products – and are particularly bad at doing so for beef, which is the highest-polluting food of all. But while consumers tend to underestimate beef’s climate footprint, research has shown that food labels can influence perceptions and understanding of food products, with certain features possibly increasing consumer comprehension. The researchers note that some labelling conventions – such as traffic-light-style Eco-Scores – can help alleviate misunderstandings over food emissions. For example, a peer-reviewed study of 255 Brits last year suggested that 63% of consumers would be deterred from purchasing meat if it had an Eco-Score in the red, while 52% would consider buying a meat alternative if it had a better rating. At the same time, 58% said they’re interested in eco-labels, but require more information – highlighting the need for more education and awareness. “Consumers are demanding a change in company practice to truly reduce greenhouse gases and carbon emissions – but what they are getting is a marketing campaign that incentivizes them to pay more for the same environmentally destructive products,” says Michael Swistara, a litigation fellow at Animal Legal Defense Fund. “The animal agriculture industry is taking advantage of the lack of regulation and ambiguity in these ‘climate-friendly’ claims and it’s consumers and the environment that are paying the price.” #GreenQueen #sustainability #climateaction #climatechange #emissions #foodtech #innovation #futurefoods

Avocados grown in Surrey, burgers made from crickets, 3D printed food… holy cow - what is this all about? 🤔 “From lab-grown meat to vertical farming, the future of food is set to revolutionise how we eat.” Or so says Bob Doherty, director of FixOurFood and dean of the School for Business & Society at the University of York. As featured by The Independent, take a look into the changing forces at play in our food chains as according to the article, a lot of it is being driven by consumer sentiment. A recent survey for Co-op’s latest Responsible Retailing Report, which has polled almost 70,000 people since it began in 1994, found that 72% of consumers have become increasingly concerned about ethical and sustainable food, driven by climate change, animal welfare, plastic pollution and fair wages for global workers. So where are you on the balance of this spectrum? Concerned about our food ethics? Ready to open up to novel food sources? Or happy to bury your head in the non-organic sand? Either way let us know… 🦗 #edibleinsects #sustainability #novelfood https://lnkd.in/enRXNjDT

🌱🥩Sustainable Meat Production: How SGS Digicomply Supports Companies in Green Initiatives In today's ever-changing food production landscape, the meat industry faces significant challenges in meeting sustainability goals while navigating regulatory demands and consumer expectations. At SGS Digicomply, we recognize these challenges and stand ready to support companies in achieving sustainability excellence. 👉 Explore our latest article to learn how we empowers companies to overcome regulatory hurdles, mitigate risks, and embrace sustainability: https://hubs.ly/Q02wVMcj0 #SGSDigicomply #Sustainability #MeatIndustry #GreenInitiatives

U.S. dairy farms have one of the lowest GHG footprints in the world. The Global Dairy Platform and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) discovered that North America is at the forefront of minimizing dairy greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Learn more about the sustainability efforts of our industry with the link below. #CheeseIndustry #Dairy #Sustainability #USAcheese #CheesefromtheUSA

🌾🥩 Lab-Grown Meat: A Sustainable Solution to Global Food Insecurity? #foodsecurity #labgrownmeat #sustainableagriculture Lab-grown meat offers a fascinating glimpse into the future of food production, potentially addressing key issues of food insecurity and environmental sustainability. 🌍🔬 This innovative approach could revolutionize our food supply chain, making it more efficient and ethical while significantly reducing our ecological footprint. #futureoffood #ecoinnovation 📖 Full read here: https://lnkd.in/dmTwM2uG

📢 Exciting news! The UK has made history as the first European country to approve lab-grown meat. This groundbreaking move signifies a major shift towards sustainable and ethical food production. The Financial Times reports that this development has the potential to revolutionize the way we think about meat consumption and its impact on the environment. Let's embrace innovation and progress towards a more sustainable future. #LabGrownMeat #SustainableFood #UKInnovation 🌱🇬🇧 https://ift.tt/mfdVjD6

Republican lawmakers in Florida and Alabama are trying to ban the sale of cultivated meat, even though it's FDA-approved and seen as a more sustainable alternative to traditionally produced meat. These bans are motivated by concerns about protecting the traditional meat industry from competition, rather than safety issues. Studies show cultivated meat could significantly reduce the environmental impact of meat production. This piece below argues that instead of banning this innovation, lawmakers should support its development to ensure the US stays competitive in the future food market. Click below to read more on The Hill. Thanks for following us. Have agreat weekend ! https://lnkd.in/dHuviWvz #cultivatedmeat #southkorea #innovation #foodtech #sustainability #cellculture #alternativeprotein #climatechange #cultivatedmeat #investments #future #foodsecurity #food #growth #environment #earth #foodsecurity #foodhabits #research #researchanddevelopment #labgrownmeat #climatechange #climateaction #future #foodcrisis #culturewars

I'm sure I have some marketers, plantbased or vegan advocates or general foodies interested in sustainability here. Danish "big pork" were told off in court for "greenwashing" sustainable pigs. If you want to reduce the environmental impact of menus, reduce the meat (& dairy). It's basic science/trophic levels. In Denmark's defense, they do have a high rate of vegetarianism & have put some cash towards plantbased innovation. Not sure how this pig farming country (more pigs than people by 2 fold) can counteract its meat production but apparently 90% is exported. A huge chunk of pork export is to the UK (bacon?) so really who is polluting? https://lnkd.in/dMPBYVJJ

Land usage is perhaps the most important sustainability topic. We use land to grow food to feed people, and we use land to maintain the wild environment, our global biodiversity. This will be an important year, because farmers across Europe are dissatisfied with land use changes and will vote for their representatives. Farmers need to become the land stewards of the world, not the mass meat/food producers of the world. Bernhard Url provides his thoughts on the challenges: https://lnkd.in/ePiiRxB3 And here are some of the key challenges that land usage must resolve: 1. Food Security: Approximately 30% of the world’s population lacked access to adequate food in 2020 and into 2021. The world’s population is expected to reach nearly 10 billion by 2050, necessitating innovative solutions to feed everyone sustainably. 2. Climate Change Pressures: Agriculture accounts for about 25% of greenhouse gas emissions, but it also offers opportunities to combat climate change and feed a growing global population. Increasing pressures from climate change impact agriculture. Extreme weather events, changing precipitation patterns, and rising temperatures affect crop yields, soil health, and water availability. 3. Soil Erosion and Biodiversity Loss: Unsustainable farming practices contribute to soil erosion, loss of fertile topsoil, and reduced soil health. Biodiversity loss affects ecosystem resilience and pollination services. 4. Consumer Preferences and Concerns: Consumers are increasingly conscious of how food is produced. They demand transparency, sustainable practices, and ethical treatment of animals. 5. Land Availability and Price: As the global population grows, securing sufficient arable land for agriculture becomes challenging. Balancing urbanization, conservation, and agricultural expansion is critical. 6. Government Regulations and Mandates: New regulations impact farming practices, from environmental standards to food safety requirements. 7. Global Financial Market Fluctuations: Volatile financial markets affect investment in agriculture and access to credit for farmers.