US-based meat producer Tyson Foods is set to become the first company in the US to verify sustainable cattle production practices on more than five million acres of cattle-grazing land in the country.

As part of the company’s commitment to supply sustainably sourced food to its customers, while taking care of people, planet and animals, it would be the largest beef transparency programme in the US.

Tyson Fresh Meats group president Steve Stouffer said: “We recognise the importance of sustainable beef production practices that take care of people, the planet and animals.

“Our goal is to work with ranchers to verify and, when possible, improve those practices so that we can be transparent with our customers and consumers about how cattle in our supply chain are raised.”

As part of this initiative, the company will work with certification and verification services provider wher Food Comes From to source cattle from BEEFCARE-verified beef producers.

BeefCARE is a third-party sustainability verification programme developed for cattle ranchers that verify that the farmers and ranchers are implementing best practices in caring for animals and the environment, as well as people and communities that support them.

More than 200 ranches are currently part of the programme and the number is expected to increase over the next several years.

Tyson Foods will also work with The Nature Conservancy in order to evaluate and enhance the environmental components of the BeefCARE programme.

The Nature Conservancy North America Sustainable Grazing Lands director Dr Sasha Gennet said: “Sustainability is a business imperative in the US beef industry to ensure long-term food production, economic security for ranchers and their communities, and a healthy environment for us all.

“Tyson Foods is setting a great example of a company that is taking proactive steps to achieve a sustainable beef system that supports farmers and ranchers while improving our critical natural resources, including soil, water, and wildlife.”