Brazil’s environmental protection agency, IBAMA, has levied a hefty fine of 365 million reais (approximately $64 million) on several cattle ranches and meatpacking companies, including JBS SA, the largest meat producer in the world. This action targets operations involved in raising or purchasing cattle sourced from illegally deforested areas in the Amazon rainforest.
IBAMA’s investigation uncovered 69 properties that had sold 18,000 cattle raised on deforested land, alongside 23 meatpacking firms that acquired these animals in the regions of Pará and Amazonas. This enforcement initiative aims to tackle rampant deforestation by closely monitoring the cattle supply chain linked to illegal activities.
In response, JBS has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that none of its purchases originated from the flagged properties. The company highlighted its commitment to sustainability through a geospatial monitoring system designed to prevent the acquisition of cattle from environmentally compromised sources.
The ongoing deforestation crisis in the Amazon, exacerbated by extensive cattle ranching and agricultural expansion, has prompted major players in the sector, including JBS, to pledge to eradicate deforestation from their supply chains by 2025. This commitment includes measures to ensure compliance with environmental standards and to address the involvement of indirect suppliers in illegal deforestation.
