There is a little sign in the garden of my friend Gabriel in Cuba. It reads “La bendición” or translated — the blessing. I met Gabriel while training in permaculture food production in Cuba. We seemed to know each other from a past life and were immediately close friends. His beautiful family radiates their love […] Read more
La bendición
Straight from the hip with Brenda Schoepp
75 million cows missing
Straight from the hip with Brenda Schoepp
Food waste is real and as global trade increases, so does the waste. The relationship between food waste and trade is complicated. Food rots because of transportation or infrastructure issues and is the victim of corrupt governments. It is taken by war lords and destroyed by tribal enemies. It is tossed from ships or held […] Read more
Who do you think you are?
Straight from the hip with Brenda Schoepp
The business of agriculture is getting it from all sides. Some folks liken farmers, ranchers and cattle feeders to monsters who are destroying the land and even more so the air. Society has a way of defining those involved in food production by what they do and not who they are. When someone asks us […] Read more
Willing to ask
Straight from the hip with Brenda Schoepp
Author Naomi Klein wrote: “Politics hates a vacuum. If not filled with hope; someone will fill it with fear.” Many can likely relate to this statement in the current political environment. From American politics, specifically on trade and immigration — to pipeline threats and promises, the art of filling the vacuum with fear is alive […] Read more
Carbon cut on beef
Straight from the hip with Brenda Schoepp
Will consumers want carbon-neutral and certified cared for beef? Will they determine those to be traits of safe food? Australia has set a goal of carbon-neutral meat production by the year 2030. The focus will be on trees and grasses that cover and sequester carbon for the nation’s 28 million head of cattle, 70.9 million […] Read more
Casting a wider net
Straight from the hip with Brenda Schoepp
In the beef industries’ quest to align with “sustainable” I would question from a health and wellness perspective if delivering sustainable through a hamburger is considered socially responsible. Are we leading children towards obesity and a heavy reliance on carbohydrates through the promotion of fast food? Is the beef industry defying the consumers’ fear of […] Read more
Changing the dialogue in agriculture
Straight from the hip with Brenda Schoepp
As a graduate student in global leadership, one thing is clear: all of humanity and all the actions of humanity centre around food. We cannot have peace without food. Nor can we progress, transfer knowledge, create communities or nurture growth. Economies fail and crisis prevails when food is uncertain or unattainable, governed or expensive, lacking […] Read more
Beef economy 4.0
Straight from the hip with Brenda Schoepp
As we enter the fourth industrialized economy, known as 4.0, we must consider the role of the beef industry in the big picture. This includes asking the question of where beef sits with regard to the elements of 4.0, which are robotics, artificial intelligence, nano-technology, genomics, bioscience and the complexity of full digitalization and cyber […] Read more
Ditching the red meat diet
Straight from the hip with Brenda Schoepp
Changing social dynamics are pressuring food, retail and research companies to offer plant- or cellular-based non-meats. Driving the consumption is a host of beliefs: Cows are bad for the environment, red meat is unhealthy, big food companies cannot be trusted (based on the concerns of animal welfare) and finally, folks are simply curious as to […] Read more
#moveover
Straight from the hip with Brenda Schoepp
The recycling of board members in leadership roles has long been an issue for Canadian agriculture. The common complaint from those on the board or in the position of power is that there is no desire on the part of others to serve. We have all heard the conversation: “the young people won’t step up,” […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
