How to Feel Less Guilty About Succumbing to Triple Decker Burgers.
You may still waddle when you walk, but research may help you breathe less methane as you huff and puff your way along.
Are you, like me, addicted to hamburgers? My obsession with these savory delights dates to childhood, and there’s no sign of it waning anytime soon. But what if you could indulge your craving without the nagging guilt of knowing you’re contributing to environmental damage through the methane emissions of our four-legged burger sources? According to Our World in Data, about 1.5 billion cattle are raised for meat, emitting at least 231 billion pounds of methane yearly. That’s a lot of GHGs, especially since methane is much more potent than carbon dioxide at warming the environment.
Don’t worry — there’s still plenty of guilt to go around. Just think about the fate of those four-legged producers. Of course, you can avoid that particular guilt by opting for plant-based alternatives like Impossible burgers or embracing high-tech lab-grown meat. However, if you happen to live in a GOP state where lab-grown meat is banned, your choices narrow to either going the Impossible route or making peace with some degree of guilt.
Now, let’s say you’re willing to accept the fate of the four-legged burger producer but still want to do your part for the environment. What’s a hamburger lover to do? Don’t worry; there’s hope on the horizon. Researchers are working on genetically modifying cows so they don’t emit methane while still producing delicious burgers. Sounds great, right? Though you might not want to ask the cows for their opinion.
In California, scientists are exploring ways to alter the cow’s digestive system to eliminate their methane production, redirecting that energy into growing larger, more efficient cattle. Don’t worry — these cows aren’t going to turn into “Babe-the-Blue-Ox” sized animals, but farmers will appreciate that their feed is staying with the cattle instead of floating into thin air.
Isn’t science amazing? Well, maybe not if you’re a politician constantly railing against it or passing laws blocking it. But for the rest of us, the answer is a resounding yes, yes it is.
Resources
EPA Providing Our World in Data
Which States Are Banning Lab Meat, and Why?
Impossible Beef Meat from Plants
Written by Gary Wells, Sr
Edited by Grammarly and ChatGPT (I need all the help I can get.)
