Taco Bell enters partnerships to conserve cattle grazing land

Keen to take steps to improve the environmental effect of its supply chain, Taco Bell has announced that it will be partnering with Cargill and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to expand sustainable practises in its beef supply chain.

The collaboration will reportedly establish a $2 million partnership to conserve natural resources and to reduce the climate impacts through implementing conservation and regenerative agriculture practises across cattle grazing lands.

Taco Bell has said that it will be using expertise from NFWF to support beef producers through the use of technical and financial tools to expand their regenerative ranching practices. Methods will reportedly range from conserving grassland ecosystems to improving river water quality and biodiversity.

The restaurant chain has said that the commitment from Cargill and Taco Bell will allocate $2 million and will leverage up to $2 million in federal funds for a combined total of $4 million in new grants over the next four years.

“We’re all about democratising access to quality, flavourful meals at an affordable price,” said Missy Schaaphok, Director of Global Nutrition & Sustainability at Taco Bell.

“What people don’t see directly on our menu is how we also prioritize sustainability just as much as craveability.”

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The partnership is estimated to conserve and restore “tens of thousands of acres and benefit the inhabiting wildlife”, while still giving cattle abundant grazing land. In fact, Taco Bell has said that these efforts are expected to sequester up to 44,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year in 2030.

The programme will impact a large region stretching from the Colorado Rockies to the Great Basin, and will include local organisations and communities across portions of seven states: Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming.

“Through the voluntary implementation of managed grazing practices, benefits to both rancher operations and wildlife are realized,” said Jeff Trandahl, Executive Director and CEO of NFWF.

“Taco Bell, in partnership with Cargill, will help organizations working directly with ranchers in the Intermountain West to implement important changes, providing better habitat for wildlife, increasing carbon sequestration, and creating a more resilient ecosystem for people and for the species that depend on these rangelands for their very survival.”

“Collaboration with ranchers and other supply chain partners is needed now more than ever, especially with food and farming being critical avenues for positive climate solutions,” said Jon Hixson, Chief Sustainability Officer at Yum! Brands (Taco Bell’s parent company).

“We’re proud to have partners in the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Cargill that acknowledge the great responsibility we carry to both Taco Bell fans and the environment,” concluded Hixson.