News|EnvironmentIs your beef linked to Amazon deforestation? A report highlights loopholesHuman Rights Watch found a major international company could be sourcing cattle from ranches linked to deforestation.
JBS, the world's largest meat company, has been implicated in illegal deforestation, land grabs, and human rights violations in the Brazilian Amazon. This is based on findings from a Human Rights Watch investigation, which highlights that JBS allegedly…
JBS, the world's largest meat company, has been implicated in illegal deforestation, land grabs, and human rights violations in the Brazilian Amazon. This is based on findings from a Human Rights Watch investigation, which highlights that JBS allegedly sourced cattle from ranches operating within protected areas.
On Wednesday, Human Rights Watch published an 86-page report focusing on the state of Pará, a significant area in the context of deforestation. The report identifies a gap in JBS's supply chain management, specifically regarding indirect cattle suppliers. Cattle raised on illegally deforested land were allegedly moved through a system to obscure their origins before reaching JBS.
Luciana Téllez, a senior environment researcher at Human Rights Watch, stated that JBS lacks the necessary systems to trace livestock effectively, affecting their ability to prevent illegal cattle ranching.
The construction of ranches is a major driver of deforestation in tropical regions, including the Amazon rainforest. The state of Pará has been particularly affected, with 17,195 square kilometers of forest degraded in 2024, a significant increase from the previous year. The region also reports high levels of land conflicts.
JBS, the world's largest meat company, has been implicated in illegal deforestation, land grabs, and human rights violations in the Brazilian Amazon.
Protected areas such as the Cachoeira Seca Indigenous territory and the Terra Nossa sustainable development area have been subject to encroachments. Para’s state animal health agency, Adepará, was noted for registering ranches in these areas without environmental consideration.
Brazil's current system for tracking livestock, which relies on animal transit permits (Guias de Trânsito Animal or GTAs), does not maintain full histories of individual animals. JBS acknowledged these loopholes in a filing to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
The company plans to require suppliers to declare their sources by 2026. However, Human Rights Watch has expressed concerns about the verification and enforcement of such declarations.
In 2023, Pará's governor introduced a decree mandating full traceability of animal movements by 2026. On a federal level, the Ministry of Agriculture announced a similar requirement for all states by 2032. Human Rights Watch and other advocacy groups argue that these timelines are insufficient to curb illegal ranching effectively.
Experts suggest that making GTA data publicly accessible could aid law enforcement in identifying illegal activities. Additionally, there is a call for more stringent regulations to ensure companies like JBS are accountable for their supply chains.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.