Abstract for: Climate-smart Practices in the Integrated Beef Supply Chain: A Causal Loop Diagram

Approximately 30% of anthropogenic methane emissions originate from livestock and beef cattle have a high environmental footprint per unit of protein produced compared to other animal protein sources. Beef Production is divided into cow-calf production systems, stockers, and feedlots. Cow-calf systems use land for grazing, which if optimized can lead to improved sequestration of carbon into the soil offsetting the emissions throughout the supply chain. We are building a System dynamics model to understand and analyze the integrated beef supply chain in the United States through a sustainability lens. Climate-smart practices that can either mitigate livestock greenhouse gas emissions or improve the carbon sequestration from the land were identified and added as variables to Causal loops. Seven reinforcing (R) and 1 balancing loop (B) were identified based on managemental practices with a special focus on profit, net emissions, and farm investments. Causal relationships indicate the interconnectivity of climate-smart practices and how they contribute to farm profitability and a reduction in net emissions, thus contributing to social, economic, and environmental sustainability. The next step is to portray the relationships between variables as mathematical equations and proceed to model-building.