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What is the environmental impact of water in the beef production industry in the United States and how can sustainable water management practices be implemented to mitigate its effects?
What is the environmental impact of water in the beef production industry in the United States and how can sustainable water management practices be implemented to mitigate its effects?
UN SDG 12 symbol (Joint SDG Fund, n.d.).
UN SDG 12
UN SDG 12
UN SDG 12 focuses on ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns. These patterns concern items such as food, natural resources, and chemicals. Natural resources consist of materials from the Earth that support everyday life of people, and the planet. This includes coal, oil, gas, water, and much more. The use of these natural resources are connected in many ways to food and chemical production and consumption, as we will see the impact of beef industries on water use and waste.
Target Goals
Target Goals
12.1: Implement framework on sustainable consumption and production patterns for all countries
12.2: Efficiently use natural rescources
12.3: Halve per capita global food waste
12.4: Achieve safe management of chemicals
12.5: Achieve producing less waste through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse methods
12.6: Encourage companies to become more sustainable
12.7: Promote sustainable public procurement practices
12.8: Ensure people are educated on living sustainably
12.a: Support developing countries achieve more sustainable patterns
12.b: Monitor impacts of sustainable development that create jobs
12.c: Rationalize inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies
How is the United States' progress in regards to UN SDG 12?
How is the United States' progress in regards to UN SDG 12?
The United States is one of the leading producers of beef globally. Throughout the cycle of producing beef, a lot of water is used for feeding, producing, and cleaning. Along with the water being used, there is a lot of water wasted or contaminated as well. There are varying estimates for the amounts of water used for beef production, as different methods and raising strategies impact water usage and waste. According to Beef Research (2023), "the U.S. beef industry reduced its water use by 3% from 2005 to 2011." Along with this, the Environmental Protection Agency has been working thouroughly to solve the issue of cattle waste water going into public bodies of water. Although this is heading in the right direction, there are multiple ways this can be reduced even further.
References
References
Broocks, A., Buchanan, J., Place, S., Rolf, M., & Lorenzo, M. (n.d.). Tough questions about beef sustainability: does beef really use that much water? Beef Research. https://www.beefresearch.org/resources/beef-sustainability/fact-sheets/water
Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (n.d.). Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. United Nations SDGs. https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal12
Joint SDG Fund. (n.d.). Goal 12 responsible consumption, production. Joint SDG Fund. https://jointsdgfund.org/sustainable-development-goals/goal-12-responsible-consumption-production
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