Published at: 3/2021
In 2019, the Wallace Center – through its Pasture Project, part of the Resilient Agriculture & Ecosystems initiative of the Wallace Center at Winrock International – and Delta Institute conducted a preliminary analysis on Illinois grass-fed/finished beef supply and demand.1 The intent of this analysis was to determine the market pull that could be used to increase regenerative grazing in the state, generating both environmental and economic positive returns. […] The purpose of this memo is to describe the discovery process for relevant stakeholders and information, as well as the outcomes of preliminary engagement and analysis. The memo concludes with short and long-term recommendations for addressing current challenges to expanding regenerative grazing in the watersheds and opportunities to building grass-fed/finished value chains that will sustain these increased grazing lands in the watershed through the production of healthy proteins demanded by local markets. […] The “Grass-Fed Beef Institutional Procurement Memo” describes this research and complements this memo.