On January 13, 2009, Tyson—one of the world’s largest processors of chicken, beef, and pork—and the fuel company Syntroleum broke ground in Geismar, Louisiana, on a “renewable” diesel plant. The fuel will be produced in part with Tyson factory farm byproducts, including animal fat and poultry litter. (“Litter” is the euphemistic term for poultry poop mixed with feathers, leftover feed, bedding, and whatever else ends up on the factory floor).

Tyson claims these facilities produce eco-friendly, cleaner-burning fuels from scraps that would otherwise be wasted. But critics beg to differ, arguing that the fuel doesn’t actually burn any cleaner and, worse, that these plants incentivize intensive livestock production and processing methods that are decidedly bad for the environment and the climate.

Read more … (The Atlantic)