Sustainable agriculture in the Amazon
Agriculture - in particular the production of beef and soya - is the biggest threat to the Amazon rainforest. Cropland in the Brazilian Amazon more than tripled between 1995 and 2006, and cattle herds increased by nearly 80% in the same period. We’re working with the key industries involved to get them to reduce their impact on the Amazon.
Why we’re involved
The Amazon’s natural environment is under increasing threat from agro-business, largely driven by growing global demand for meat. Brazil is the world’s major beef exporter, and the second largest exporter of soybeans - which are mainly used for livestock feed.
Cattle ranching is the main cause of deforestation in the Amazon - as much as 70% in fact.
Soya is a more indirect but significant threat. Brazil’s soya exports to China increased from one million tons to four million tons between 1999 and 2003. The soya is largely grown in the Cerrado savannah (itself a threatened region) where it’s displacing cattle ranches - which are expanding into the Amazon instead.
But forest conversion isn’t entirely down to large landowners producing more beef, soya and other cash crops. Illegal “land grabbing”, where landless or migrant farmers occupy public land, is also a problem.
How we’re helping
We were founder members of the Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS), which is developing environmental and social standards for growing soya. We’re also founder members of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).
In the UK, we’re encouraging major retailers and manufacturers to push for responsible soya production and to use certified sustainable palm oil.
We’re also working with the beef industry in Brazil and internationally. We’re looking to develop standards that will stop deforestation for cattle ranching, make the industry fairer, and improve environmental practices.
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