Listening
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- complicate / ˈkɒm plɪˌkeɪt / (v.) – to make something more difficult to understand or do
Example:The new visa requirements are complicating travel for many tourists.
- conscientious / ˌkɒn ʃiˈɛn ʃəs / (adj.) – being very careful to do your work correctly and to be fair to others
Example:As a conscientious worker, John never misses deadlines.
- counterpart / ˈkaʊn tərˌpɑrt / (n.) – a person or thing that has a similar job or purpose to another in a different place or group
Example:Our mayor met with her counterparts from other cities to discuss social issues.
- fatten up / ˈfæt n ʌp / (phrasal v.) – to make a person or animal gain more weight, usually by feeding them a lot
Example:The farmer fattened up the chickens by feeding them extra grain before selling them.
- feedlot / ˈfidˌlɒt / (n.) – a place where animals, like cows, are kept and fed to gain weight before being sold
Example:Unlike cows raised on open fields, those in feedlots stay in small spaces and eat feeds rather than grass.
Article
Read the text below.
A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finds that even in the most optimistic scenarios, grass-fed beef produces no less planet-warming carbon emissions than industrial beef. The finding calls into question the frequent promotion of grass-fed beef as a more environmentally friendly option. Still, other scientists say grass-fed beef wins out on other factors like animal welfare or local environmental pollution, complicating the choice for conscientious consumers.
“I think that there is a large portion of the population who really do wish their purchasing decisions will reflect their values,” said Gidon Eshel, a research professor of environmental physics at Bard College and one of the study’s authors. “But they are being misled, essentially, by the wrong information.”
When it comes to food, beef contributes by far the most emissions fueling climate change and is one of the most resource- and land-intensive to produce. Yet demand for beef around the world is only expected to grow. And carefully weighing the benefits of grass-fed beef matters because, in most parts of the world where beef production is expanding, such as South America, it’s being done by deforesting land that would otherwise store carbon, said Richard Waite of the World Resources Institute.
Experts say this study’s finding makes sense because it’s less efficient to produce grass-fed cattle than their industrial counterparts. Animals that are fattened up in fields instead of feedlots grow more slowly and don’t get as big, so it takes more of them to produce the same amount of meat.
Jennifer Schmitt, who studies the sustainability of U.S. agricultural supply chains at the University of Minnesota, said she thinks the paper “helps us get a little closer to answering the question of maybe how much beef should we have on the landscape versus plant proteins,” she said.
Schmitt said maybe if beef was scaled back on a large enough scale and if farmers could free up more cropland for other foods that humans eat, the localized environmental benefits of grass-fed cattle could make up for the fact that they come with higher emissions.
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- Some people think grass-fed beef is better for the environment. Does this study change your opinion on beef? Why do you say so? Would you be willing to eat plant-based alternatives to beef to lessen beef consumption for the environment? Why or why not? Discuss.
- In your country, do you think people will be convinced not to eat beef? Why do you say so? Why do you think the demand for beef is increasing around the world, even though it’s linked to climate change (ex. because of cultural preferences, because of its nutritional value)? Discuss.
Discussion B
- Gidon Eshel thinks that many people really do wish their purchasing decisions would reflect their values. In your opinion, is this hard to do? Why do you say so? What factors do you think stop people from choosing more sustainable food options (ex. availability, convenience)? Discuss.
- Would you consider yourself as a conscientious buyer? Why do you say so? What factors influence your purchasing decisions the most—price, sustainability, brand reputation, or something else? Discuss.
