Grass-fed beef is often seen as a more humane and environmentally friendly choice compared to industrially produced beef. However, experts say the climate impact of grass-fed beef is actually worse, mainly because grass-fed cows take longer to reach market weight and emit more methane over their lifetimes. Studies show that even accounting for carbon stored in soil, grass-fed beef operations produce at least 10 percent more emissions per kilogram of protein than industrial beef. While grass-fed beef may offer some benefits in terms of animal welfare and reduced pollution, it uses more land and does not significantly reduce climate-warming emissions. Experts suggest that the most effective way to lower food-related emissions is for people to reduce their overall meat consumption, rather than switching to grass-fed options.