Inside The Billion-dollar Feed Industry’s Ploy To Greenwash Emissions

Generated Summary

This article examines the feed industry’s strategy to fast-track federal review of feed additives, particularly focusing on a new law that would expedite the approval process for such additives. The investigation delves into the potential environmental impact of these additives, specifically in the context of reducing methane emissions from livestock, and the role of the “climate-friendly” meat and milk market. It explores the implications of a new feed additive, Bovaer, designed to reduce methane emissions in dairy cows and its rapid approval process. The article highlights the involvement of major players in the feed industry, such as Elanco and Cargill, and their lobbying efforts to support the proposed legislation. It also discusses the complexities of carbon credit markets, the critique of these types of carbon inset programs and potential for reducing methane emissions and the push for more plant-forward diets to address climate change. The research approach involves analysis of the feed industry’s strategies, the potential impact of feed additives on methane emissions, and the broader implications for the environment and the food industry. The methodology includes examination of the FDA review process, carbon credit markets, and the assessment of different viewpoints on methane reduction strategies.

Key Findings & Statistics

• The drug Bovaer, sold under the brand name Bovaer, passed FDA review in just under twelve months.
• The industry is projected to be valued at nearly $100 billion by 2027.
• Cargill spent over $1.3 million on lobbying in 2023.
• Elanco’s testing indicates that the drug can cut methane emissions by 30 percent for dairy cattle.
• The dairy industry is fueling 11 percent of methane emissions each year.
• A single dairy cow is able to emit up to 264 pounds of methane in that time.
• Angie Craig (D-MN) has received $14,300 in funds associated with feed company Cargill this year.
• 200 experts surveyed by Harvard University said they overwhelmingly agreed on the need for a broader food system shift.

Other Important Findings

• Elanco is poised to play a critical role in marketing industrial meat and dairy as sustainable.
• The American Feed Industry Association employed four DC lobbyists last year to help push for the proposed legislation.
• Bovaer, or 3-nitrooxypropanol or 3-NOP, is already being sold for use in both beef and dairy production in more than 50 countries.
• The FDA did not independently test these claims regarding Bovaer’s methane reduction efficacy, and a metaanalysis of 3-NOP trials has found a wider range of results.
• Athian is a different model of carbon market, allowing farmers who participate in the carbon credit market to claim carbon credits.
• Critics say that many of these methane reductions should be taking place across polluting industries anyway, not giving the companies even more financial incentives.
• The new law would reclassify feed additives as “zootechnical animal food substances,” not drugs, which would allow fast-track review for all feed additives.

Limitations Noted in the Document

• The article notes that the FDA did not independently test the claims regarding Bovaer’s methane reduction, suggesting a potential limitation in the validation of the drug’s effectiveness.
• The study mentions that a metaanalysis of 3-NOP trials has found a wider range of results, which could indicate variability or uncertainty in the drug’s performance.
• The article focuses on the environmental impact of feed additives, specifically in the context of methane emissions reduction, which may be limited in scope if other environmental aspects of the feed industry are not taken into account.
• The article acknowledges the speculative nature of claims about feed additives, highlighting the limitations of the existing evidence base.
• The discussion of carbon credit markets and insets does not fully examine the complexities of these systems, potentially overlooking aspects such as the measurement of carbon credits and their verification.

Conclusion

The article suggests that the feed industry’s push for the fast-tracked approval of feed additives, particularly Bovaer, is part of a larger strategy to greenwash emissions within the livestock sector. The central implication is that while feed additives may offer a way to reduce methane emissions, the current approach could be insufficient without broader systemic changes. The article underscores that the current system gives companies financial incentives without providing a sustainable approach. The article cites a need for a broader food system shift towards plant-forward diets to truly address climate change. This study’s conclusion is that the focus on feed additives alone may not solve all the problems. Key takeaways are the need for a more comprehensive approach that considers the environmental impact of the whole food system. The role of carbon markets and the need for more plant-forward diets are discussed as potential changes. The article serves to stimulate a critical discussion of the food industry and how it relates to environmental impact and the importance of looking into the broader implications of feed additives and the need for more comprehensive solutions.