Cargill highlights progress protecting South American forests

As part of its commitment to sustainably nourish the world, Cargill has released its mid-year report on its progress toward building a deforestation-free soy supply chain. The company outlined key achievements, including the mapping of its Brazilian soy supply chain.

“We haven’t wavered in our commitment to protecting forests and native vegetation, and we believe this can be done in ways that are economically viable for farmers and local communities,” said John Hartmann, global sustainability lead for Cargill’s agricultural supply chain, in a press release. “By working with farmers, customers, governments, and others in the industry, we have made meaningful progress on our soy action plan and will continue efforts to make the soy supply chain more sustainable.”

The report covers critical milestones that Cargill has achieved, which include the following:

• Mapping 100% of its Brazilian supply chain with georeferenced single points, which allows the company to identify the locations of its direct and indirect suppliers.
• Calculating the estimated share of its soy in Brazil grown on land that is deforestation- and conversion-free, 95.7%, by analyzing data from external sources about both crop growth and changes in land use, using 2008 (Forest Code) as a reference point.
• Expanding its direct engagement with farmers in Brazil, including the launch of a new partnership with the largest farmer association in the state of Bahia.
• Growing its Sustainably Sourced and Supplied certification program in Brazil and Paraguay, providing a large market for soybeans grown through verified sustainable methods. Farmers who commit to this program pledge to produce their crops by using the best agricultural practices, protecting worker welfare, and managing greenhouse gas emissions under a continuous improvement process.

The report also outlined Cargill’s new partnerships with farmers and advancements on its $30 million fund to find innovative solutions to protect forests in ways that are economically viable for farmers in South America. In addition, the company shared updates on its Land Use and Forest Sustainability Advisory Panel.