Key Takeaways:
- McDonald’s USA, Lopez Foods, and Syngenta North America have launched a collaboration to enhance feed efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in U.S. beef production.
- Enogen® corn by Syngenta, with its in-seed enzyme technology, will be used to improve feed efficiency in cattle, potentially reducing emissions per pound of beef.
- Research indicates Enogen® corn can improve feed efficiency by approximately 5%, contributing to environmental savings in water, land, and energy use.
- McDonald’s aims to scale this initiative to achieve reductions of over 164,000 metric tons CO2e per year.
Partnership to Enhance Sustainable Beef Production
McDonald’s USA, Syngenta North America, and Lopez Foods have announced a joint initiative to promote sustainability in beef production. This collaboration is part of McDonald’s broader commitment to reducing its environmental impact through climate-smart innovations, particularly in its beef supply chain, a major focus for the company’s sustainability goals.
Kendra Levine, Director of US Sustainability for McDonald’s, commented on the initiative, saying, “McDonald’s is starting with a priority ingredient for our company – beef. We believe the innovative collaboration with Syngenta is an opportunity to help us make progress toward our science-based climate targets.” This partnership with Syngenta and Lopez Foods represents a targeted approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through feed efficiency advancements.
Enogen® Corn Technology and Environmental Impact
Central to this initiative is Syngenta’s Enogen® corn, a specialized corn variety engineered with an alpha-amylase enzyme that accelerates starch conversion to sugars, making it more digestible for cattle. Enhanced digestibility and feed efficiency are recognized as effective ways to lower greenhouse gas emissions from livestock. “At Syngenta, we’re convinced improving the sustainability of the global food system can be accelerated through innovation and collaboration,” said Justin Wolfe, President of Syngenta Seeds. “We’re proud of the great attributes of our Enogen® corn, and how our work can help enable McDonald’s and their beef supply chain to deliver impact.”
Studies have shown that Enogen® corn, when used in cattle feed, can improve feed efficiency by about 5%. This improvement translates to potential environmental savings per 1,000 head of cattle, including:
- 196 tons (178 metric tons) of CO2e emissions reduction,
- 69-acre (28-hectare) decrease in land needed for feed,
- 6 million gallons (22 million liters) less water usage, and
- 231,000 kilowatt-hours of energy savings.
These reductions highlight the significant impact of improving feed efficiency in the beef industry, as increasing feed efficiency not only lowers emissions but also optimizes resource use, a core goal of sustainability efforts in livestock production.
Scaling Up Climate Efforts
McDonald’s plans to scale this program to help achieve annual emissions reductions of over 164,000 metric tons CO2e. Syngenta’s commitment to sustainability includes focusing on solutions that can deliver higher yields with lower environmental impacts, improve soil health, and support rural communities. Justin Wolfe emphasized the potential of such collaborations to drive large-scale impact, noting, “Sustainability is fully embedded in the global business strategy of Syngenta, with clear targets and an ambition that guides the company’s innovation.”
