To the Editor:Re “America’s Diet Is Feeding a Groundwater Crisis” (“Uncharted Waters” series, front page, Dec. 30):The world has been making meat basically the same way for about 10,000 years, by feeding crops to animals, so that humans can eat animals.
This method of meat production is inefficient, requiring vast quantities of land and water, and shifting crop production to lower-value crops for animal feed from high-value crops for human consumption.
Plant-based and cultivated meat use far less land and water, and they have a host of other benefits.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies released a report in May documenting how these “alternative proteins” can create opportunities for farmers, jobs in the heartland, more choices for consumers and robust export markets.
Like any more efficient production method, these new ways of making meat are a win-win for industry, which is why we’re seeing leadership in these sectors from major meat and food companies including ADM (Archer-Daniels-Midland), Cargill, Tyson, Nestle and JBS.
Persons:
Cargill, Tyson
Organizations:
Strategic, International, ADM, Archer, Daniels, Nestle, JBS
Locations:
Midland