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It’s beef. > Beef caused at least 4 times more deforestation than any other food in the last two decades

colechristensen 8mo ago
This is what we need tariffs for. And it could probably get broad support for both supporting domestic cattle production AND environmental concern.
- icegreentea2 8mo ago
  American beef imports are heavily driven by how US beef production and consumption is structured. Basically, the US focuses beef production on creating high quality cuts (ie, steaks and other cuts with high marbling/fat), because that's what a large portion of domestic consumption is (and it's highest value). This leaves the US with a very large amount of high fat off cuts that aren't very marketable on their own. Imports are typically ultra lean cuts (which are also not very usable), and these two sources are then combined into ground beef. Here's one source, but there are plenty of others you can find: https://tscra.org/we-have-94-million-cows-why-do-we-import-beef-and-answers-to-other-burning-questions-about-trade/ https://tscra.org/we-have-94-million-cows-why-do-we-import-b... Basically, classic value chain optimization.
  - colechristensen 8mo ago
    Yes, imports and tariffs reshape markets
DANmode 8mo ago
My beef doesn’t come from cattle in a rainforest - or even out of state. If yours does: do something about it.
- foobarchu 8mo ago
  > do something about it. On a scale of ease of saying vs ease of doing, this one is off the charts. The beef lobby is very powerful, and for 99% of people literally all they can do is to reduce their own consumption and annoy their friends and family. These things do almost nothing to move the needle.
  - DANmode 8mo ago
    Going to push back on this one until the cows literally come home: what economy are you in that you’re shipping in your meat from overseas (e.g. former rainforest)?
    - cwmoore 8mo ago
      An economy that offers fast food restaurants.
      - DANmode 8mo ago
        Localize more food production. Through whatever means necessary.

This is what we need tariffs for. And it could probably get broad support for both supporting domestic cattle production AND environmental concern.

icegreentea2 8mo ago
American beef imports are heavily driven by how US beef production and consumption is structured. Basically, the US focuses beef production on creating high quality cuts (ie, steaks and other cuts with high marbling/fat), because that's what a large portion of domestic consumption is (and it's highest value). This leaves the US with a very large amount of high fat off cuts that aren't very marketable on their own. Imports are typically ultra lean cuts (which are also not very usable), and these two sources are then combined into ground beef. Here's one source, but there are plenty of others you can find: https://tscra.org/we-have-94-million-cows-why-do-we-import-beef-and-answers-to-other-burning-questions-about-trade/ https://tscra.org/we-have-94-million-cows-why-do-we-import-b... Basically, classic value chain optimization.
- colechristensen 8mo ago
  Yes, imports and tariffs reshape markets

DANmode 8mo ago

My beef doesn’t come from cattle in a rainforest - or even out of state. If yours does: do something about it.

foobarchu 8mo ago
> do something about it. On a scale of ease of saying vs ease of doing, this one is off the charts. The beef lobby is very powerful, and for 99% of people literally all they can do is to reduce their own consumption and annoy their friends and family. These things do almost nothing to move the needle.
- DANmode 8mo ago
  Going to push back on this one until the cows literally come home: what economy are you in that you’re shipping in your meat from overseas (e.g. former rainforest)?
  - cwmoore 8mo ago
    An economy that offers fast food restaurants.
    - DANmode 8mo ago
      Localize more food production. Through whatever means necessary.