Cattle Australia to develop deforestation definition in EU pushback

Cattle Australia, the peak body representing the beef industry, will draft its own definition for defining deforestation in an attempt to see off a European directive that would potentially harm exports.

CA’s Land Management Commitment will be put to producers and the supply chain on May 26 under a policy framework that is voluntary and specific to Australian conditions.

Dr Chris Parker, CEO of Cattle Australia said that the broader trend of sustainability reporting was rippling through the supply chain, including financial institutions that would create unfair burden on the industry.

The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) was due to come into effect from January 1, 2025, and Dr Parker called on the government and the supply chain to hold fast from signing up to the compliance requirements.

“As it stands, there is no clear definition on deforestation aligned to our Australian land management practices that supports our biodiversity,” Dr Parker said.

He said it was critical that the industry developed its own standard, based on a single source of truth informed by national mapping that would allow for lifetime traceability of livesock.

“Given the varied ESG compliance requirements we are facing, including biodiversity and natural capital reporting, there is strong urgency to provide a clear pathway to deliver beef products with deforestation-free credentials into our global markets.

“The Land Management Commitment will provide a voice to our producers and support our supply chain partners in demonstrating the environmental stewardship associated with Australian agricultural practices.

“Done well, this will also bolster our existing industry systems, highlight the sustainability credentials of our commodities, and provide competitive advantage over jurisdictions with poor practices.”

The framework for the draft policy principles are:

1. A voluntary standard, developed by industry for industry, with the intention of empowering producers to make informed decisions.

2. The Land Management Commitment will reflect the unique landscapes and land management practices that exist in Australia.

3. Promoting producer economic outcomes will be the primary guiding principle.

4. The Land Management Commitment will lean on existing State, Territory and Federal definitions, legislation, and measurement/ monitoring systems where possible, and be simple to implement.

5. Collaborating with the supply chain and financial sector to enable all parties to leverage an industry-agreed definition and common method of verification, consistently applied by all parties. This will avoid a scenario of multiple definitions creating confusion and burden for producers.

6. A single traceability system using existing industry systems to provide a single engagement point for producers.

7. A make-good mechanism to provide direction regarding compliance and any remediation of historic land management practices, where required, to ensure producers are not excluded on the basis of past management activities.