Net zero beef is now a reality

Regeneratively farmed beef cattle could sequester more carbon than they emit, according to modelling results from a McDonald’s-sponsored project at FAI Farms. And the robust data behind this, produced by soil carbon specialist Agricarbon, will enable food-producing businesses to back up their net zero balance with solid scientific findings. The four-year (2020-2023) trial transitioned the Oxfordshire-based 486-ha organic farm from a rotational grazing system to an adaptive multi-paddock (AMP) grazing system. The carbon balance of the farm was calculated to be beyond net zero (-49.7t of CO₂e), thanks to a combination of relatively low emissions and carbon sequestration on permanent pasture. In addition, the cattle were healthier, soil structure was improved, biodiversity boosted, and staff were happier. “We’ve known for some time that healthy soil can sequester high amounts of carbon, and it’s fantastic that these figures can form part of the growing global evidence to back this ...