As representatives of the farming and ranching community, we at the Student Idaho Cattle Association (SICA) would like to share our perspective in response to the article, “Beef: it’s not for dinner” published on Sept. 6, in The Argonaut. The article portrayed the livestock industry as harmful to the environment and the consumption of meat as damaging to personal health.
Unfortunately for Americans feeding the world, some media outlets spread a common misconception that beef is more destructive than cars. The Environmental Protection Agency reported livestock represents just 3 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the US, whereas cars represent 14 percent. Additionally, cattle can graze in areas of the country that cannot grow crops meant for human consumption. This allows for land to be utilized and has been shown to reduce the risk of wildfires.
In 2007, Dr. Jude Capper determined the Water Footprint Network, a water usage resource for the Vegetarian Calculator, includes green and grey water which is not fresh water, thereby inflating estimates. The US Geological Survey found in 2015 livestock represented less than 1 percent of the total freshwater usage.
Epidemiologist Dr. Dominik Alexander conducted a study analyzing research regarding meat consumption and cancer and found the risk to be statistically insignificant in addition to finding variations in the results of cancer locations and types. The ability to isolate red meat intake is limited because other dietary, genetic and behavioral factors cannot be eliminated, nor replicated.
As the human population continues to grow, beef will be essential in converting inedible plants and by-products to high quality, nutrient dense food as a great source of protein, vitamins and minerals.
In the future, SICA encourages The Argonaut and consumers to utilize the scientific community for factual resources.
Jessie Van Buren
SICA President
KELLY C. RYAN
Thank you SICA. College students really shouldn't rely on Time magazine for education.