Introduction Material

Question 1

20/50 Challenge

Answer 1

provide enough food for 3x the population within 1 lifetime

Question 2

Marginal Land

Answer 2

2/3 of all agricultural land
does not allow for the growth of crops, only cellulose (grass)
ruminants are the only organisms that can use cellulose as a form of energy
(cellulose is the largest biomass in the world)

Question 3

Arable Land

Answer 3

1/3 of all agricultural land
allows for the growth of crops
1/2 of all arable land uses synthetic fertilizers other 1/2 uses organic fertilizers

Question 4

Shopper Preference

Answer 4

Price
Taste
Nutrition
Brand

Question 5

Organically raised animals

Answer 5

not allowed to consume food grown with pesticides or synthetic products (no chemical input)
not allowed to be given antibiotics or medicine if they do receive either they are not able to go back into production

Question 6

Distribution

Answer 6

about 90 million heads of beef cattle in the US
about 9 million heads of dairy cattle in the US (producing 60x more milk than in 1950), carbon footprint has been reduced by 2/3

Question 7

Mitigation of Emissions

Answer 7

decrease the # of animals per kg of product
increase the performance of cows –> carbon footprint decreases (inverse relationship)
done by improving fertility, improving health, improving genetics, increasing feed efficiency, and producing more energy-dense feed