Farmers have a beef with Weather Network over tweet
Posted Jul 19, 2019 06:01:00 PM.
Last Updated Jul 20, 2019 11:55:51 AM.
ALBERTA (660 NEWS) — A tweet from the Weather Network has ruffled some feathers in the agriculture industry. Farmers took issue with the tweet featuring a video that encouraged people wanting to save the environment to “seriously consider limiting the amount of beef you eat.”
If you really want to help save the planet, you could seriously consider limiting the amount of beef you eat. https://t.co/eoOFeLc1l5
— The Weather Network (@weathernetwork) July 19, 2019
“We have one of the lowest Green House Gas footprints in the world at 0.04 per cent of global GHG emissions,” said Jill Harvie, public and stakeholder manager with the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association.
“We are really viewed as global stewards of the land — just being very efficient and technologically savvy.”
She said she found the tweet surprising.
“We just have great producers here who are always trying to put the environment first and foremost.”
According to statistics from the CCA, Canada produces approximately 1.3 million tonnes of beef every year.
In 2018 alone, Canada exported $2.75 billion or 398,580 tonnes of beef.
The Beef Cattle Research Council, a division of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, says livestock grazing is essential for grasslands to flourish.
Norway-based, non-profit EAT-Lancet Commission conducted a scientific review of what constitutes a healthy diet from a sustainable food system. One of their recommendations to support and speed up the transformation to a more sustainable food system, is to reduce consumption of red meat and sugar by about 50 per cent and double the consumption of nuts, fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
660 NEWS reached out to the Weather Network for comment but have yet to receive a response.