Arielle Greenwood is a land manager for Freestone Ranch, a restoration-focused grass-fed beef operation in the United States. She argues that pushing to eat less meat to help the environment oversimplifies issues within the agriculture livestock sector. Additionally, it overlooks the reality of many farmers who rely on selling meat from their livestock in order to support themselves. Instead of applying a blanket-solution to a complex problem, Greenwood calls for more curiosity and nuance in the discussion of meat consumption. While industrial meat production is harmful, livestock can contribute to soil health, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration when raised using sustainable practices. Greenwood’s knowledgeable approach to farming results in restoration of grazing land that has been mismanaged for decades. Instead of simply reducing meat consumption, Greenwood advocates for rethinking meat production and supporting farming systems that integrate animals in ways that restore and enhance the environment.
