Low Carbon Beef, a cattle certification program that enables beef farmers and ranchers to earn premiums by reducing carbon emissions of their cattle operation, today announced it has secured approval as a USDA Process Verified Program (PVP) Service Provider from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). This approval marks the first USDA PVP for calculating the life cycle GHG emissions for beef production. The PVP will enable beef providers to differentiate and market beef that is raised with reduced greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). As the U.S. beef industry continues to improve the sustainability of beef production, the Low Carbon Beef (LCB) Certification is designed to provide a quantifiable measure for cattle raised with a reduced carbon footprint. The LCB process verifies that cattle have been raised with reduced greenhouse gas emissions using a comprehensive lifecycle assessment that quantifies the impact of sustainable herd management practices and cattle performance throughout the life of the animals.
"We need to do more than talk about change, we have to be able to measure it, verify it, and provide a better product for consumers," said Colin Beal, Ph.D. and founder of Low Carbon Beef LLC. "The Low Carbon Beef certification provides consumers the ability to purchase beef that is produced with efficient and sustainable methods, while also supporting market-based premiums for beef producers. Farmers and ranchers who put sustainable practices in place, and the packers who support reducing emissions, deserve a premium for the work they are doing to improve beef's carbon footprint. LCB provides the third-party data that retailers, restaurant operators, and consumers need to be confident they are making a more sustainable choice."