Brasilia, Brazil – The slaughterhouses who agreed with the Brazilian prosecutors were much more likely to obey the environmental laws that prohibit the purchase of cattle from illegally deforesting lands, according to an audit published on Wednesday, but the gaps in the supervision mean that a large part of the Amazon beef supply chain is linked to the destruction of the forest.
Companies that hired independent auditors as part of the agreement with the Federal Prosecutor’s Office acquired 4% of their livestock from areas with illegal compensation. In contrast, companies that did not hire auditors registered a non -compliance rate of 52%, 13 times higher.
“He sends a clear message to the market and consumers about which companies are really investing in a responsible and transparent production,” said prosecutor Ricardo Negrini in a statement.
The most clear land in the Amazon becomes pastures. For, whose capital, Belem, will be the host of this year’s UN climatic conversations, houses 25 million head of cattle. It is also the Brazilian state with the largest amount of carbon emissions, since deforestation represents approximately half of the country’s total production.
The Amazon jungle is an important climate regulator, since trees absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that heats the planet. Cleaning of the forest for cattle creates a double problem for emissions: trees are lost and cattle, particularly cows, also contribute to global warming because they release methane, another greenhouse gas.
Brazil consumes most of its production of beef, but exports are growing. China is, with much, the biggest buyer, followed by the US.
The audit was part of a liquidation agreement reached in 2009. Formally known as legal beef behavior adjustment agreement aims to prevent companies from gaining collected in illegally deforesting Amazon areas. He has technical support from civil organizations, such as IMAFLORA and the University of Wisconsin -Madison.
The agreement was first implemented in the State of Para and now includes five other Amazon states. The audits of cattle purchases made in 2022 were made in 89 slaughterhouse units, including the main companies such as JBS, Minerva and Marfrig.
However, these audits only examine direct purchases, leaving aside the laundering of generalized cattle in the Amazon. The most common way is to transfer cows from an illegal area to a legal farm before selling to slaughterhouses, deliberate traceability.
Negrini said the problem has worsened as farmers find ways to monitor stricter direct purchases from the agreement.
Preliminary data in the report show that only 38% of indirect slaughterhouses complied verifiably. To reach this number, prosecutors examined transfer documents issued by state animal health agencies.
“Some slaughterhouses have up to six indirect suppliers behind each direct. It is a significant part of the supply chain that still lacks adequate monitoring,” said Camila Trigueiro, a researcher of the non -profit organization Belem Imazon. “The Federal Prosecutor’s Office must move urgently to address these producers.”
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