Choose foods based on production practices, not type

Recent letters extol the virtues of a nonmeat diet, claiming environmental benefits.

While this is a popular theory, it lacks factual basis. Volumes of carbon dioxide and methane gases emitted by ruminants are based on digestion chamber research. Thus, abnormal diets, abnormal habitat and abnormal behavior.

These gases have never been measured from animals in natural grazing situations. No doubt that ruminants expel CO2 and CH4; however, in nature, methanatropic bacteria consume methane as an energy source, so the net carbon to the atmosphere is reduced.

Progressive ranchers are actually increasing carbon storage in their soils with good management. Conventional tillage and other plant production practices not only reduce soil carbon, but also often create other environmental problems. Progressive crop producers utilizing no-till, multispecies cover crops and permaculture ideology are creating excellent benefits.

The bottom line: Progressive food producers, both meat and plant, are producing environmental benefits. The problem is that their numbers remain small. If one seeks to improve the environment through dietary choices, it would seem wise to choose based upon production practices rather than food type.

This story was originally published February 17, 2016 at 3:22 PM with the headline "Choose foods based on production practices, not type."