CASE STUDY
LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF AMERICAN-PRODUCED WAGYU BEEF
Our client was looking to quantify the cradle-to-gate environmental performance of beef products. They wanted insights related to their overall value chain in order to develop effective sustainability and business strategy. This baseline life cycle assessment would be a starting point for future sustainability efforts within their own brand and for their ranchers.
KEY TAKEAWAY
A life cycle assessment produces a representative baseline by which strategies can be developed to address hotspots and improve environmental performance. Methane emissions from cattle digestion, nitrous oxide emissions from land and manure, and purchased feed production were key hotspots to consider in this beef production system. Future advancements in the client's sustainability journey were ensured through the development of a "what-if" analysis tool.
PROJECT SCOPE
Include all relevant operation types occurring within the client's production system, including ranches, background yards, and feed yards. This included primary data from over 19 sites, representing 20-100% of operations, depending on the type.
Generate the baseline life cycle impact results for the brand and their ranch partners. This included a baseline operation result and the development of an Excel-based tool that would allow the brand to continue to set up what-if analyses in the future to assess planned and potential changes.
Develop a defensible LCA methodology and ensure robust data management that can be updated in the future as needed. An LCA is best when repeated over time to understand how implemented changes lead to improvements to avoid long-term unintended consequences or burden shifting.
WHAT WE LEARNED
The entire cattle life cycle must be accounted for, even if they have relatively minor impacts, from cow/calf operations to backgrounding to finishing. Understanding how long an animal spends on feed and on pasture within each stage plays a role in environmental performance.
Specialty cattle types, such as Wagyu, tended to have higher carbon footprints per pound of cattle compared to conventional production systems.
The carbon footprint for this beef production system was aligned with global benchmarks. Methane from enteric fermentation and direct nitrous oxide emissions from manure management dominated impacts.
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
While each system is different, select agricultural strategies have proven to be effective time and time again. Given the impact of enteric fermentation, feed additives that suppress methane production rates are worth exploring. Furthermore, cattle production, while known to be environmentally intensive, is also known for its regenerative benefits when land management practices are optimized. A tailored grazing strategy can therefore improve the potential biodiversity benefits possible from cattle production.
OUR IMPACT
JBE provided a basis for the client's sustainability journey, providing them with valuable insights on where the most environmental impacts occur within their production system and provided strategic and tailored recommendations the client could actually implement. The results can serve as the foundation to enhance brand value, transform into a sustainable brand, prioritize sustainability initiatives, and identify environmental impact reduction opportunities, but will not stand alone to accomplish these objectives.