Dan Blaustein-Rejto
@danbr.bsky.social
Researching sustainable food & agriculture at Breakthrough Institute. Sustainable food future = lower-carbon livestock, plant-based and cultivated meat, biotech / GMOs, intensive and industrial production. thebreakthrough.org/people/dan-blaustein-rejto
While some grazed land is arid, much is not & could store more carbon if not grazed. Our research shows that the large land footprint of grass-fed beef means it has an even bigger carbon footprint than typically thought. It also means improving productivity has big benefits. t.co/51DzPkAypR
January 14, 2026 at 12:12 AM
While some grazed land is arid, much is not & could store more carbon if not grazed. Our research shows that the large land footprint of grass-fed beef means it has an even bigger carbon footprint than typically thought. It also means improving productivity has big benefits. t.co/51DzPkAypR
No. Grass-fed beef actually has a larger carbon footprint than conventional beef. Not only do grass-fed cattle emit more methane, but they also use more land, which has a big climate cost.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/c...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/c...
January 14, 2026 at 12:12 AM
No. Grass-fed beef actually has a larger carbon footprint than conventional beef. Not only do grass-fed cattle emit more methane, but they also use more land, which has a big climate cost.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/c...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/c...
If California wants to fix its frankly scandalous record on the LCFS it needs to take a VERY hard look at the program. To start, it should make sure we don’t end up forcing Californians to pay for crop-based SAF, which has all the same problems we previously detailed:
January 9, 2026 at 10:02 PM
If California wants to fix its frankly scandalous record on the LCFS it needs to take a VERY hard look at the program. To start, it should make sure we don’t end up forcing Californians to pay for crop-based SAF, which has all the same problems we previously detailed:
Why does GTAP produce such low carbon intensities? It’s rather Orwellian. The model simply does not allow producers to convert unmanaged forest (something that happens all the time in the real world).
January 9, 2026 at 10:02 PM
Why does GTAP produce such low carbon intensities? It’s rather Orwellian. The model simply does not allow producers to convert unmanaged forest (something that happens all the time in the real world).
Surprising no one, empirical studies now coming out find land use change effects orders of magnitude higher than the ex-ante estimates produced by GTAP. Biofuel subsidies are indeed spurring significant deforestation and land conversion in the US and around the world.
January 9, 2026 at 10:02 PM
Surprising no one, empirical studies now coming out find land use change effects orders of magnitude higher than the ex-ante estimates produced by GTAP. Biofuel subsidies are indeed spurring significant deforestation and land conversion in the US and around the world.
Today, we tell the infuriating story of California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, a program that was supposed to decarbonize transportation but ended up forcing CA drivers to pay 18 billion dollars for biofuels that are worse for the climate than fossil fuels. My coauthor Lauren's excellent X thread:
January 9, 2026 at 10:02 PM
Today, we tell the infuriating story of California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, a program that was supposed to decarbonize transportation but ended up forcing CA drivers to pay 18 billion dollars for biofuels that are worse for the climate than fossil fuels. My coauthor Lauren's excellent X thread:
Exactly. The Guardian authors created that graph. The original results in the paper report percent change in yield "relative to counterfactual yields", not change in yield from today. They dont report predictions of actual yields, but note innovation will likely keep raising yields
December 24, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Exactly. The Guardian authors created that graph. The original results in the paper report percent change in yield "relative to counterfactual yields", not change in yield from today. They dont report predictions of actual yields, but note innovation will likely keep raising yields
Grassley: RFK better not listen to Calley Means and criticize pesticides!
RFK: Please. I’m just making his sister, Casey Means, America’s top public health messenger.
RFK: Please. I’m just making his sister, Casey Means, America’s top public health messenger.
November 26, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Grassley: RFK better not listen to Calley Means and criticize pesticides!
RFK: Please. I’m just making his sister, Casey Means, America’s top public health messenger.
RFK: Please. I’m just making his sister, Casey Means, America’s top public health messenger.
Billions of dollars go to agricultural innovation & development, but too few solutions ever reach the farmers who need them.
Our new report outlines how AIM for Scale could change that, identifying cost-effective innovations and convening orgs to scale them up. thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-...
Our new report outlines how AIM for Scale could change that, identifying cost-effective innovations and convening orgs to scale them up. thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-...
November 18, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Billions of dollars go to agricultural innovation & development, but too few solutions ever reach the farmers who need them.
Our new report outlines how AIM for Scale could change that, identifying cost-effective innovations and convening orgs to scale them up. thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-...
Our new report outlines how AIM for Scale could change that, identifying cost-effective innovations and convening orgs to scale them up. thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-...
Cutting food tariffs in general, however, is still good. Food prices have been up since Trump levied additional tariffs.
But it shouldn't be one-sided. The U.S. should continue to pair tariff reductions with opening new markets for its own farmers.
But it shouldn't be one-sided. The U.S. should continue to pair tariff reductions with opening new markets for its own farmers.
October 20, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Cutting food tariffs in general, however, is still good. Food prices have been up since Trump levied additional tariffs.
But it shouldn't be one-sided. The U.S. should continue to pair tariff reductions with opening new markets for its own farmers.
But it shouldn't be one-sided. The U.S. should continue to pair tariff reductions with opening new markets for its own farmers.
Importing more Argentinian beef won’t change much—current imports are about equal to *a single day* of U.S. beef consumption.
October 20, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Importing more Argentinian beef won’t change much—current imports are about equal to *a single day* of U.S. beef consumption.
China may have stopped buying U.S. soy but Congress and the White House are finding ways to use more of it for biofuel, at taxpayers' and drivers' expense.
My latest for @thebti.bsky.social: www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/burning-th...
My latest for @thebti.bsky.social: www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/burning-th...
October 17, 2025 at 5:07 PM
China may have stopped buying U.S. soy but Congress and the White House are finding ways to use more of it for biofuel, at taxpayers' and drivers' expense.
My latest for @thebti.bsky.social: www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/burning-th...
My latest for @thebti.bsky.social: www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/burning-th...
New evidence that tariffs have increased prices of many foods, especially coffee. www.library.hbs.edu/working-know...
October 9, 2025 at 5:46 PM
New evidence that tariffs have increased prices of many foods, especially coffee. www.library.hbs.edu/working-know...
U.S. agricultural productivity has nearly flatlined, a new report shows, going from 2% annual growth in the 1980s to just 0.28%.
That slowdown adds pressure on farmers, food prices, and environmental sustainability. 🧵 t.co/gpROxZL1B6
That slowdown adds pressure on farmers, food prices, and environmental sustainability. 🧵 t.co/gpROxZL1B6
October 1, 2025 at 10:03 PM
U.S. agricultural productivity has nearly flatlined, a new report shows, going from 2% annual growth in the 1980s to just 0.28%.
That slowdown adds pressure on farmers, food prices, and environmental sustainability. 🧵 t.co/gpROxZL1B6
That slowdown adds pressure on farmers, food prices, and environmental sustainability. 🧵 t.co/gpROxZL1B6
Converting half of cropland to organic, as many in the MAHA movement wish to see, would require over 30 million more acres—nearly Iowa’s size.
New analysis shows how MAHA's vision for farming would raise costs, environmental impacts, and even health risks. t.co/sMrcoT2B82
New analysis shows how MAHA's vision for farming would raise costs, environmental impacts, and even health risks. t.co/sMrcoT2B82
September 26, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Converting half of cropland to organic, as many in the MAHA movement wish to see, would require over 30 million more acres—nearly Iowa’s size.
New analysis shows how MAHA's vision for farming would raise costs, environmental impacts, and even health risks. t.co/sMrcoT2B82
New analysis shows how MAHA's vision for farming would raise costs, environmental impacts, and even health risks. t.co/sMrcoT2B82
The leaked MAHA report nods at how precision farming can cut pesticide use. But it ignores one of the biggest opportunities: biotechnology. With research + regulatory reform, biotech crops (like Bt corn) could need far fewer pesticides. agfundernews.com/leaked-maha-...
August 18, 2025 at 10:53 PM
The leaked MAHA report nods at how precision farming can cut pesticide use. But it ignores one of the biggest opportunities: biotechnology. With research + regulatory reform, biotech crops (like Bt corn) could need far fewer pesticides. agfundernews.com/leaked-maha-...
New MAHA report says to back research on technologies to help farmers reduce pesticide use, NYTimes reports.
It's a great idea. Advances in precision ag, biopesticides & GMOs can cut pesticide use. But Trump & Congress need to stand behind agriculture R&D to make that happen, not cut its funding.
It's a great idea. Advances in precision ag, biopesticides & GMOs can cut pesticide use. But Trump & Congress need to stand behind agriculture R&D to make that happen, not cut its funding.
August 15, 2025 at 5:34 PM
New MAHA report says to back research on technologies to help farmers reduce pesticide use, NYTimes reports.
It's a great idea. Advances in precision ag, biopesticides & GMOs can cut pesticide use. But Trump & Congress need to stand behind agriculture R&D to make that happen, not cut its funding.
It's a great idea. Advances in precision ag, biopesticides & GMOs can cut pesticide use. But Trump & Congress need to stand behind agriculture R&D to make that happen, not cut its funding.
High corn & soy yields have been making headlines. But what isn't reported is that U.S. agricultural productivity is actually *slowing*.
Our new roadmap outlines how to get back on course. 🧵
Our new roadmap outlines how to get back on course. 🧵
August 13, 2025 at 6:59 PM
High corn & soy yields have been making headlines. But what isn't reported is that U.S. agricultural productivity is actually *slowing*.
Our new roadmap outlines how to get back on course. 🧵
Our new roadmap outlines how to get back on course. 🧵
The U.S. is falling behind in agricultural innovation, spending half as much as China on R&D.
The result: slowing productivity growth and a record farm trade deficit.
Our new roadmap shows how America can innovate to lead in agriculture again.
🔗 buff.ly/1FOtkRl
The result: slowing productivity growth and a record farm trade deficit.
Our new roadmap shows how America can innovate to lead in agriculture again.
🔗 buff.ly/1FOtkRl
August 13, 2025 at 4:14 PM
The U.S. is falling behind in agricultural innovation, spending half as much as China on R&D.
The result: slowing productivity growth and a record farm trade deficit.
Our new roadmap shows how America can innovate to lead in agriculture again.
🔗 buff.ly/1FOtkRl
The result: slowing productivity growth and a record farm trade deficit.
Our new roadmap shows how America can innovate to lead in agriculture again.
🔗 buff.ly/1FOtkRl
How can we fix our food system and stop "eating the earth"? RSVP for this deep dive webinar July 30, hosted by
@thebti.bsky.social with @mikegrunwald.bsky.social, @farmfuture.bsky.social and @jennysplitter.bsky.social: t.co/CobCxQF8l4
@thebti.bsky.social with @mikegrunwald.bsky.social, @farmfuture.bsky.social and @jennysplitter.bsky.social: t.co/CobCxQF8l4
July 10, 2025 at 4:49 PM
How can we fix our food system and stop "eating the earth"? RSVP for this deep dive webinar July 30, hosted by
@thebti.bsky.social with @mikegrunwald.bsky.social, @farmfuture.bsky.social and @jennysplitter.bsky.social: t.co/CobCxQF8l4
@thebti.bsky.social with @mikegrunwald.bsky.social, @farmfuture.bsky.social and @jennysplitter.bsky.social: t.co/CobCxQF8l4
As we've written, technology has historically continued increasing global crop yields even in the face of climate change. Wheat yields have increased 218% since 1961, relative to a hypothetical 235% w/o climate change. thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-...
June 20, 2025 at 6:39 PM
As we've written, technology has historically continued increasing global crop yields even in the face of climate change. Wheat yields have increased 218% since 1961, relative to a hypothetical 235% w/o climate change. thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-...
So many misleading headlines. The new Nature paper doesn't predict that crop yields will *fall*. It finds that climate change will slow growth in yields, but that thanks to innovation and other factors, yields will "probably" continue rising above today's levels.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
June 20, 2025 at 6:35 PM
So many misleading headlines. The new Nature paper doesn't predict that crop yields will *fall*. It finds that climate change will slow growth in yields, but that thanks to innovation and other factors, yields will "probably" continue rising above today's levels.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Many think that eating local helps the climate. But exporting more U.S. beef, especially to China, could cut global emissions by millions of tons.
Why? American beef has a far lower carbon footprint than beef from Brazil and other major exporters. www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/how-trump-...
Why? American beef has a far lower carbon footprint than beef from Brazil and other major exporters. www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/how-trump-...
June 18, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Many think that eating local helps the climate. But exporting more U.S. beef, especially to China, could cut global emissions by millions of tons.
Why? American beef has a far lower carbon footprint than beef from Brazil and other major exporters. www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/how-trump-...
Why? American beef has a far lower carbon footprint than beef from Brazil and other major exporters. www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/how-trump-...
Gas in California is about $1.50 more expensive than in the rest of the US. Ending the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, while not a panacea, would help and also reduce support for environmentally dubious biofuels like soy-based renewable diesel. www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/how-califo...
June 12, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Gas in California is about $1.50 more expensive than in the rest of the US. Ending the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, while not a panacea, would help and also reduce support for environmentally dubious biofuels like soy-based renewable diesel. www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/how-califo...