Dear American Angus Association Board of Directors:

3021 Frederick Avenue

Saint Joseph, MO, 64506

 

Mark McCully, CEO

Jonathan Perry, President

Jim Brinkley, Vice President

Darrell Stevenson, Treasurer

Rod Adams, Director

Art Butler, Director

Alan W. Mead, Director

Henry B. Smith, Director

Roger Wann, Director

Mark Ahearn, Director

Smitty Lamb, Director

Charles Mogck, Director

Jerry Theis, Director

Paul Bennett, Director

John Dickinson, Director

Ron Hinrichsen, Director

Mark Z. Johnson, Director

Danny Poss, Director

 

From: The Membership of the American Angus Association & Concerned Cattle Producers

Subject: Urgent Call to Return the $4.85 Million Grant from the Bezos Earth Fund

 

Dear Members of the Board of Directors,

We, the undersigned members of the American Angus Association (AAA) and concerned cattle producers, are compelled to express our deep concern and strong opposition regarding the recent $4.85 million grant from the Bezos Earth Fund and the Global Methane Hub through the Angus Foundation.  We believe this decision fundamentally conflicts with the core values, mission, and integrity of our association, and we demand its immediate reversal.

The Issue at Hand

The AAA leadership’s acceptance of this grant—aimed at methane research and the promotion of low-methane traits—appears to endorse a narrative that portrays cattle as a primary environmental problem. Such an endorsement compromises the integrity of the Angus breed, undermines our mission to promote and preserve Angus cattle, and aligns us with groups and agendas fundamentally at odds with our industry and its values.

By partnering with the Bezos Earth Fund and the Global Methane Hub, the association tacitly accepts the premise that cattle are detrimental to environmental health, contradicting established scientific understanding. The research from UC Davis in 2020 clearly indicates that methane from ruminants is a short-lived, recycled component of the biogenic carbon cycle, not a long-term pollutant. Moreover, recent U.S. data shows that with declining herd sizes, methane emissions from cattle are decreasing—further undermining the narrative that cattle are a significant environmental threat.

The Broader Context

Jeff Bezos and the Bezos Earth Fund have invested heavily in alternative protein sources, including plant-based and lab-grown meats, which are direct competitors to traditional beef production. Their investments in initiatives such as the Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein and the Global Methane Hub’s radical policies reflect a clear political and economic agenda aimed at diminishing the role of cattle in our food system.

The Bezos Earth Fund’s funding priorities—such as the $9.4 million invested in developing a vaccine to curb "cow farts" or the $100 million commitment to fund plant-based and “alternative” meats—and their partnership with entities promoting radical methane reduction strategies, threaten the very foundation of our industry. These initiatives are driven by political agendas and ideological views that do not reflect the scientific consensus or the realities of responsible cattle production.

The Purpose and Values of the American Angus Association

As outlined in our Charter, the AAA exists to:

Maintain the purity of the Angus breed

Collect, verify, and promote pedigrees and breed data

Promote the best interests of the breed and its breeders

Accepting funds from an organization with an agenda to discredit cattle and promote alternative proteins directly conflicts with these fundamental purposes. It undermines our credibility, our breed’s reputation, and our members’ livelihoods.

Our Call to Action

We respectfully but firmly request that the AAA Board of Directors:

Immediately return the $4.85 million grant from the Bezos Earth Fund and Global Methane Hub.

Establish transparency and open communication with members regarding any future research partnerships or funding.

Refocus efforts on scientific research that supports actual and legitimate cattle production based on facts, rather than politically motivated agendas.

Our membership’s trust and the integrity of our breed must be protected. We urge the Board to act decisively to uphold the values and mission of the American Angus Association.

In conclusion, we believe that accepting this grant not only jeopardizes the reputation of our breed and association but also aligns us with interests that threaten our industry’s future. Returning this funding is the right and responsible course of action.

We thank you for your attention to this urgent matter and look forward to your prompt response.

 

Sincerely,

[Collective signatory line]

 

Respectfully submitted,

Members of the American Angus Association & Concerned Cattle Producers