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Beef is the third most widely consumed meat in the world, accounting for 25% of the world’s meat production. The beef production is an important part of Canada’s economy, contributing over $25 billion per year; the average Canadian consumes 20.1 kg (~44 lbs.) of beef per year. The beef industry is also responsible for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture with the average cow producing an excess of 100 liters of methane, a greenhouse gas 23 times more powerful than carbon dioxide, each day. In terms of efficiency, beefs production is least efficient compared to other livestock.

Beef Industry

Introduction

In vitro Beef

In-Vitro meat is an edible animal flesh product that does not come from the slaughter of a living animal. The process of developing in-vitro meat involves stimulating the growth of muscle tissue in a cellular culture. However, cultured meat is (currently) prohibitively expensive and lacks some of the health benefits found in other sources of protein.

Vegetarian Diet

Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the consumption of meat â€“ red meatpoultryseafood and the flesh of any other animal; it may also include abstention from by-products of animal slaughter. Many cultures have a traditionally vegetarian or near-vegetarian diet (diets that include fish and poultry but not red meat) which typically emphasize the use of beans or tofu in the place of meat. It has been shown that there are many health benefits associated with a vegetarian diet, including decreased risk of heart attack or stroke, but there are also some health concerns including iron and protein deficiencies.

Human insect-eating
Fish Farming

Human insect-eating is common to cultures in most parts of the world, including North, Central and South America; and Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand with over 1,000 species of insects known to be edible. Some experts to suggest the consumption of insects as a potential alternative protein source to animal livestock, citing possible benefits including greater efficiency, lower resource use, increased food security, and environmental and economic sustainability. One of the current issues with human insect-eating is that no facilities exist in western countries for the production of insects as a food source and that they are not approved as a food source by organizations such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Fish farming is the primary source of aquaculture (farming in or around water) and involves raising fish commercially in tanks or enclosures. Widespread overfishing, due to the increased demand for fish and fish protein, led to the creation and proliferation of fish-farms. Some of the most important fish species used in commercial fish farms include carp, salmon, tilapia and catfish. While more efficient than land-based livestock, commercial fish farms are plagued by issues with disease, and have been blamed for the collapse of wild stocks.

Cows, fish, crickets, beans, lentils and legumes… what do all of these have in common? Humans use them as sources of protein!


Protein is one of the major building blocks of life and forms a major part of every cell in our body. Protein is also the major building block of myostatin the primary component in muscle. Muscle allows us to move as well as pumps blood throughout our entire body system; because of this work, there is a constant creation and destruction of muscle fiber in our body every day and, therefore, a great need for protein, measuring approximately 46 grams a day for women and 50-55 grams a day for men. Humans obtain protein from their environment in a number of different ways, the primary source being from dietary meat. Canada produces protein from a variety of different sources, Alberta is a well-known protein producing province in the form of beef cattle, the Maritimes have a tremendous number of fisheries and the Prairie Provinces grow a number of high protein crops.


However, which sources of protein society uses has a significant impact on both the environment and the health of individuals.

Equipped with this information continue along to discover your task!

Current Practices

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