The World’s Largest Protein Companies Are Failing To Address Their Environmental Impacts
Many of world’s largest animal protein producers are failing to address their environmental, animal welfare and human health impacts, a new report suggests. Now in its second year, the Coller FAIRR Protein Producer Index analyzes companies like Hormel and the Brazilian meat firm JBS, finding that many of the 60 largest in the sector aren’t taking the necessary steps to reduce their environmental impacts.Forbes, 09 September 2019
Brazil, Beef, Supply chain
As fires race through Amazon, Brazil’s Bolsonaro weakens environmental agency
As the world recoils at the sight of fires ravaging Brazil’s Amazon jungle, the nation’s far-right government is undermining the agency charged with protecting the rainforest, Reuters has learned from interviews with ten current and former employees, public records and a review of internal government reports.Money Web, 01 September 2019
Brazil, Beef, Soy, deforestation, forest fire, amazon fire
Amazon Forest Faces Threat From Fires, Mining, Land Occupation And Logging
The Amazon, covering 5.5 million square kilometers over nine countries, faces ever more serious threats from encroaching crop and livestock farming, mining, land occupations and illegal logging.Newzz, 31 August 2019
Brazil, Timber, Beef, Soy, forest fire, amazon fire, deforestation
Fires not the only threat facing Amazon
Raging wildfires have drawn the world's attention to the Amazon but immolation is just one of the dangers facing the world's largest rain forest, environmental experts across the region say.Phys, 31 August 2019
Brazil, Timber, Beef, Soy, forest fire, amazon fire
‘Trade deal binds Bolsonaro to Paris pact’
The top EU trade official defended the blockbuster deal between the bloc and major South American partners on Wednesday, insisting it binds Brazil to the Paris Agreement on climate change.Daily Express, 18 July 2019
Brazil, Europe, Timber, Soy, Beef, deforestation, brazilian amazon, mercosur trade
Accelerating deforestation in Brazil endangers EU trade deal
Threats to Amazon rainforest jeopardise European economic accord with Mercosur, which includes ecological commitments.Al Jazeera, 18 July 2019
Brazil, Europe, Palm Oil, Timber, Beef, Soy, deforestation, Amazon
Expanding the Soy Moratorium to Brazil’s Cerrado
Because only 19.8% of undisturbed native tropical savanna remains in Brazil’s Cerrado, conversion of the remaining habitat is a major threat to biodiversity. More than 4800 endemic plant and vertebrate species in the Cerrado could become extinct in the coming decades unless additional conservation measures are taken.Science Mag, 17 July 2019
Brazil, Soy, soy moratorium, cerrado, native vegetation
The Amazon Is Not Brazil's to Destroy
“The Amazon is ours,” Brazilian President José Sarney defiantly declared before the United Nations General Assembly in 1989. The slogan’s obvious nationalist force made it a favorite of right-wing politicians, including members of Congress linked to construction companies with stakes in the rainforest’s development. Thirty years later, President Jair Bolsonaro is now leading their ranks – and threatening the wellbeing not only of the Amazon, but also of Brazil and the entire planet.Jewish Journal, 16 July 2019
Brazil, Timber, deforestation
Environmentalists put more pressure on Cargill to slow forest-to-farm movement in Brazil
Environmental groups want the Minnetonka, Minn.-based grain trader and food processor to intervene in the clearing of habitats in the Cerrado region of central and southern Brazil, particularly for soybean production, as it did previously in the Amazon region in that country's north.Phys.org, 16 July 2019
Brazil, Soy, cerrado, native vegetation
EU farm chief struggles to dispel concerns over Mercosur trade deal
The EU’s Agriculture Commissioner, Phil Hogan, sought to address national concerns over the proposed EU-Mercosur trade deal during a meeting with the bloc’s 28 farm ministers on Monday (15 July).Euractiv.com, 16 July 2019
Europe, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Venezuela, Uruguay, Beef, beef trade, deforestation, Amazon
Experts deny alleged manipulation of Amazon satellite deforestation data
The Brazilian National Institute of Space Research (INPE) issues annual Amazon deforestation reports via its PRODES satellite monitoring system (which relies on NASA Landsat satellite imaging), while the DETER system issues monthly deforestation/degradation alerts (which rely on Sino-Brazilian satellites). While experts consider INPE’s monitoring systems among the best in the tropics, ministers in the Bolsonaro administration have insinuated that the deforestation data may be manipulated. Experts have denied this, and note that INPE findings align well with those collected by NGOs Imazon and ISA, and Global Forest Watch (GFW).Mongabay, 16 July 2019
Brazil, Timber, Beef, Soy, deforestation
Under President Bolsonaro, Amazon Deforestation Up 90%
Clear cutting in the rainforest has gone up 88% in June compared to the same time last year. The new government’s push for more logging may, however, scuttle the new EU-Mercosur free-trade agreement.Brazzil, 09 July 2019
Brazil, Soy, deforestation
Sinn Féin outlines Dáil motion to reject ‘sell-out’ Mercosur deal
A motion rejecting the EU-Mercosur Agreement has been published by Sinn Féin and will be debated in the Dáil this week.Agri Land, 08 July 2019
Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, Venezuela, Beef, beef trade, deforestation, amazon
Deforestation in Brazil continues to soar as current administration shows lack of interest
Deforestation in Brazil’s part of the Amazon basin has almost doubled in June compared to May — and May also had a higher-than-usual deforestation rate. This is largely attributed to the current administration reducing controls in the area which has emboldened loggers.ZMW Science, 08 July 2019
Brazil, Timber, deforestation
What's the beef with the EU-Mercosur trade deal?
Jean-Claude Juncker, the outgoing European Commission president, received a letter on June 17 from the government leaders of four EU member states, including taoiseach Leo Varadkar and French president Emmanuel Macron. The quartet had “deep concerns” over the implications for agriculture emerging in trade talks with the Mercosur bloc in South America and how it “could threaten this fragile sector in our countries”.The Times, 07 July 2019
Europe, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Paraguay, Uruguay, Beef, Mercosur, beef trade
‘Beef sector is being sacrificed by the EU’
Ulster Unionist Party Leader Robin Swann MLA has accused the EU Commission of sacrificing its own beef sector and turning a blind eye to double standards after it agreed a trade deal with the South American trade bloc Mercosur.Farming Life, 06 July 2019
Europe, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Paraguay, Uruguay, Beef, EU trade deal, mercosur deal
Climate Weekly: No time for consensus
One area where climate often feels like an afterthought is in trade deals. Brazil has promised to honour the Paris Agreement in the provisionally inked Mercosur-EU pact, yet the Bolsonaro administration pursues policies that enable the destruction of Amazon rainforest.Climate Change News, 05 July 2019
Europe, Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Beef, EU, mercosur
Flawed commentary on sustainability derailing debate on Mercosur trade deal
Ireland will have to make a decision and should do so on the facts and not on the basis of the false claims that are being made.Irish Times, 05 July 2019
Europe, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Paraguay, Uruguay, Beef, beef trade, deforestation, amazon
Climate Weekly: No time for consensus
One area where climate often feels like an afterthought is in trade deals. Brazil has promised to honour the Paris Agreement in the provisionally inked Mercosur-EU pact, yet the Bolsonaro administration pursues policies that enable the destruction of Amazon rainforest.Climate Change News, 05 July 2019
Europe, Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Beef, EU trade deal, mercosur deal
Hogan rejects ‘inaccurate’ criticism of EU-Mercosur deal
European Union agriculture commissioner Phil Hogan has rejected criticism of the EU/Latin American Mercusor trade deal, saying critics are exploiting environmental concerns to block efforts to boost free trade.Irish Times, 05 July 2019
Europe, Brazil, Venezuela, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, Beef, beef trade, deforestation, amazon
Traceability, data offers key to reducing deforestation risk from beef product trade
Increased cattle production in Brazil may raise the risk of deforestation to meet feed needs; however, increasing industry transparency and cattle tracking could alleviate some of that risk, says analyst.Feed Navigator, 04 July 2019
Brazil, Beef, deforestion, Traceability
Brazil registers huge spike in Amazon deforestation
The Brazilian Space Agency has released data documenting a massive spike in deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. Citing figures from June, the agency registered an 88.4% increase over the same month in 2018.DW, 03 July 2019
Brazil, Soy, Beef, deforestation, Amazon
Scares around standard of imported foods under Mercosur deal could see products banned from EU
"Scares" around the quality of South American food will trigger a “red button” that results in a ban on products imported from that firm or region under safeguards built into the new Mercosur trade deal.Irish Examiner, 03 July 2019
Europe, Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Beef, deforestation, mercosur trade deal, beef trade
JBS: Brazilian butchers take over the world
If you eat meat, you probably buy products made by one Brazilian company. A company with such influence it can impact climate change, openly admit to having bribed more than 1,000 politicians, and continue to grow despite scandal after scandal. And you’ve probably never heard of it.The Ecologist, 02 July 2019
Brazil, Beef, JBS, deforestation, slave labour, animal welfare violations
Amazon rural development and conservation: a path to sustainability?
Oil palm production in Brazil continues to be conducted on a small scale as compared to the nation’s vast soy plantations. Total oil palm cultivation was just 50,000 hectares in 2010. Today, that total has risen to 236,000 hectares, 85 percent of which is in Pará state.Mongabay, 02 July 2019
Brazil, Palm Oil, deforestation