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NCBA focusing on trade, alternative protein, sustainability

Trade, alternative protein, and sustainability are some issues that are top of mind for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association in 2020.

Ethan Lane, vice president of government affairs, says NCBA is pleased with the trade progress with China and is hopeful some non-tariff trade barriers will be removed as part of the phase one agreement.

“We’re hopeful that’s what we’re going to see out of this deal- lower those barriers because they’re not science-based and those aren’t things that are hampering our trade in other parts of the world,” he says. “We’re hopeful that we’re going to set those aside and have a fair playing field going into China.”

He tells Brownfield NCBA is also closely watching the labeling of alternative proteins.

“We have a binder about three inches thick of what we view to be pretty egregious examples of violations— beefy, meaty, beefy crumbles— and the market research we’re doing is showing that consumers are really being misled,” he says.

Lane says the beef sector is also focused on sustainability.

“US cattle producers are only contributing 2 percent to greenhouse gas emissions,” he says. “We’re the model for the world of how to do this sustainably and efficiently. We’re producing as much beef today as we did in the 1970s with 33 percent less cattle.”

Brownfield spoke to Lane at the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association annual meeting.

Audio: Ethan Lane, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association