REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE
Rotational grazing for happier cattle and healthier land.
OUR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPERATIVE
At Windward, we understand the negative impact that conventional meat production and consumption habits have on our environment. We believe there is a better way to approach diets and snacking where meat can still play a vital role. It's been a crucial part of a healthy human diet for centuries and is well documented in the anthropological record. Rather than no meat, consuming beef in moderation from sources that respect the lives of the animals and the land the cattle graze can play an important part in improving our ecosystem and climate. We hope to promote this middle ground and increase education of these practices - the way nature intended. Enter regenerative agriculture.
RESPONSIBLE SOURCING
Our grass-fed beef jerky is sourced from ranches that allow the cattle to roam free on open land using regenerative agriculture practices. These cows graze in the sunlight and are not injected with growth hormones or antibiotics. Our suppliers take part in the USDA organic program and are dedicated to the humane treatment of their cattle.
RESPECTING OUR CATTLE
Locally sourced
Our suppliers are 100% USA-based. This means cattle live locally in the United States their entire lives, reducing their carbon footprint.
Increased biodiversity
No feedlots or fertilizer are used at our suppliers' ranches, and environment-first practices lead to drought-resistant land, clean waterways, and increased sustainability.
ROTATIONAL GRAZING & BIODIVERSITY
Rotational grazing is the process of herding cattle across the land so that they do not eat down to the roots of the grass and plants. This allows the soil and plants to remain healthy.
Because rotational grazing maintains healthier soil, the land is able to absorb more carbon dioxide into the soil as part of the carbon cycle. This reduces greenhouse gases and has the potential of offsetting the cattle's methane creating a net negative impact on our environment.
Regenerative agriculture allows for more natural and even spread of manure across the land which increases forage growth and biodiversity. This is an integral part of a healthy ecosystem.
LIMITATIONS
Regenerative agriculture and grass-fed beef by themselves won't ever solve our climate crisis. But we strongly believe that meat consumption can still have a place in a modern, healthy diet which benefits our environment. Reducing the volume of conventional meat consumed, increasing a plant-based diet, and eating high quality, ethically produced meat - in moderation - can help promote more biodiverse land and sustainable food systems.
