Brazilian meat giant JBS faces mounting scepticism over whether it can meet its 2025 target to eliminate deforestation from its Amazon beef supply chain, amid warnings the region is nearing an environmental tipping point.
The world’s largest meat company, Brazil-based JBS, is in dispute with critics over whether it will be able to meet its goals to limit deforestation in the Amazon River basin.
Beef production is the primary driver of deforestation, as trees are cleared to raise cattle, London’s The Guardian reported. Scientists warn this is pushing the Amazon close to a tipping point that would accelerate its shift from a carbon sink into a carbon emitter.
“JBS, the Brazil-headquartered multinational that dominates the Brazilian cattle market, promised to address this with a commitment to clean up its beef supply chain in the region by the end of 2025.”
To hit its targets, JBS needs to register all its direct and indirect suppliers and ensure none of the meat it buys from the Amazon is from cattle that has grazed on deforested land.
The newspaper teamed up with others in Brazil, interviewing more than 35 people, including cattle ranchers and ranching unions representing thousands of farms in the affected areas.
“The investigation found widespread disbelief that JBS would be able to complete the groundwork and hit its deforestation targets,” it reported. The goal that all cattle JBS bought would be deforestation-free was “unreachable”, one interviewee said.
JBS reacted angrily to the accusations.
“Drawing inferences and conclusions from a limited sample of 30 farmers while disregarding that JBS has over 40,000 registered suppliers is entirely irresponsible,” the company said in a statement.
JBS said it believed the company had “an in-depth and robust series of integrated policies, systems, and investments that are making a material and positive impact on reducing deforestation risks.”
Which side is right will not be known until the end of this year at the earliest.
