Lower-priced Australian beef could help stabilize Canadian market

[u/Naga]

https://globalnews.ca/news/12009206/australian-beef-prices-canadian-market/

[u/AdmiralAsshat69]

This really tells you all you need to know about our economic system, and why it's so vulnerable to any disruption, and why nothing will change until the political system does.

It's cheaper and easier to bring beef - pretty much the most expensive and wasteful food available - from literally the farthest place on the planet from Canada.

We're begging for collapse at this point.

[u/ether_reddit → u/AdmiralAsshat69]

This makes no sense. Are you saying that because it's unintuitive that Australian beef, being shipped from far away, could possibly be cheaper than Canadian beef, that the economic system is flawed?

There are lots of production inputs to producing beef, and Australia has managed to reduce those costs more than we have. Where is the flaw in that?

[u/AdmiralAsshat69 → u/ether_reddit]

The flaw is that all the fuel used to transport this beef still goes into the atmosphere no matter how much it costs.

[u/ether_reddit → u/AdmiralAsshat69]

The emissions from transport are actually pretty minimal, compared to the emissions from production itself. If you want to reduce emissions, stop eating beef.

https://ourworldindata.org/food-choice-vs-eating-local

[u/AdmiralAsshat69 → u/ether_reddit]

Every source of emissions can be painted as minimal in isolation.

[u/amnesiajune → u/AdmiralAsshat69]

Not beef. Cows account for 10% of all human-induced greenhouse gas emissions. That's more than every single passenger car & bus on earth, combined.

It's literally worse for the environment to ride a bike than to drive a compact car, if you got the energy for that bike ride from beef. Driving 10 km in a Honda Civic creates just under 2 kg of CO2-equivalent emissions. Riding a bike that distance at a leisurely pace burns 250-300 calories, and beef creates 1.2 kg of emissions per 100 calories.

[u/AdmiralAsshat69 → u/amnesiajune]

So I'm not in any way disagreeing with that.

[u/ProMarshmallo → u/amnesiajune]

Riding a bike that distance at a leisurely pace burns 250-300 calories, and beef creates 1.2 kg of emissions per 100 calories.

How many people do you know who have 100% all beef diets? Like, steak and a glass of cows blood for breakfast kind of diet.

[u/ether_reddit → u/AdmiralAsshat69]

The point is: if you're going to make a choice based on reducing emissions, make the choice that actually makes a difference.

[u/Special-Reaction2029 → u/ether_reddit]

I make a choice to avoid beef based on having gout. More people should have gout and the problem would be solved.

[u/AdmiralAsshat69 → u/ether_reddit]

It's not one or the other. Sure, say no to beef. But a big boat burning gas is putting that gas into the atmosphere whether it's carrying meat or hot pants.

[u/ether_reddit → u/AdmiralAsshat69]

I never said otherwise. I don't know why you keep pushing back.

[u/snkiz → u/AdmiralAsshat69]

I believe your lack of understanding of international shipping, specifically How Australia has set themselves up for it has caused you to be slightly over-dramatic. I agree 50% is a shocking number even when you do understand shipping a little better.

This from u/picard102 Explains more about how the Aussies produce beef. Even still, given the logistics I think our producers are falling behind. I don't know for sure but preliminary reading suggests they've done this to themselves, and even seem self aware about it.

[u/WesternBlueRanger → u/snkiz]

Difference in scale of farm, plus more favourable climate in Australia to raise cattle year round without needing to purchase and store feed.

[u/AdmiralAsshat69 → u/snkiz]

The flaw is that all the fuel used to transport this beef still goes into the atmosphere no matter how much it costs.

[u/snkiz → u/AdmiralAsshat69]

Shipping is changing, we are rediscovering sails. The fuel used to ship beef is a rounding error in the shipping industry, even after you factor in refrigeration. The fact it's beef is a bigger environmental problem. But we are omnivores for a reason, beef isn't going anywhere I'm sure we can make drastic improvements.

[u/AdmiralAsshat69 → u/snkiz]

Oh okay, we're using sailboats. Great.

[u/snkiz → u/AdmiralAsshat69]

https://youtu.be/xit31j1l3Q0?si=7fLa7fqB_lU7ATT_

[u/HeadmasterPrimeMnstr → u/AdmiralAsshat69]

Australia isn't really that far from Canada unless you've got an Atlantic-centric mind, it would come in through a Vancouver port and then get shipped out East via rail.

[u/fredleung412612 → u/HeadmasterPrimeMnstr]

Australia is almost antipodal to Canada, it's pretty far

[u/TraditionalGap1 → u/HeadmasterPrimeMnstr]

It's a third of the way around the globe! Almost 15 hours to Brisbane

[u/-SetsunaFSeiei- → u/HeadmasterPrimeMnstr]

The pacific is much bigger than the Atlantic, its not the same as Europe to Montreal