Scaling-up Sustainable Livestock Production: Innovation and Challenges for Grass-fed Beef in the U.S.

Abstract

The U.S. grass-fed beef sector has expanded rapidly in recent years, with the rise of consumer and producer interest in alternatives to conventional beef, with its associated environmental, health, and social costs. A nationwide study of grass-fed beef producer groups focused on scaling-up operations reveals that there are significant obstacles along the supply chain—including on-farm inputs, processing and marketing, and finance capital—to expanding individual operations and the sector overall. Entrepreneurial innovations, discussed here, can meet these challenges to some degree, yet broader, systemic approaches need more attention. Further, the benefits of scale must be weighed against potential drawbacks.