Cargill makes new zero-deforestation pledge

Cargill, the largest agricultural company in the world, has committed to eliminate deforestation and land conversion in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay by 2025.

The commitment extends to several row crops including soy, corn, wheat and cotton, and builds on its commitment to protect and revitalise land in critical ecosystems.

The announcement comes as companies are increasingly under pressure from new accounting standards that calculate the impact on the environment. Under the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures framework, backed by 1200 institutions from 58 countries, companies will be required to report metrics against which the impact on nature can be valued by investors.

In a statement, released on 27 November, Cargill said it would accelerate its commitment to eliminate deforestation and land conversion from its direct and indirect supply chain of key row crops, pulling forward plans to eliminate deforestation across South America by 2030. 

READ MORE: Deforestation in the Amazon is now threatening Brazilian ag output

Combined, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay provide approximately 30 percent of the world’s trade flows and 13 percent of total production of these crops, and the company said it would work with the World Resources Institute to implement geospatial monitoring to improve traceability, reporting and verification of natural ecosystems and farm areas.

“As Cargill works to eliminate deforestation in our supply chains around the world, we are prioritising collective action and collaborative partnerships with farmers, governments, non-governmental organisations, and other critical stakeholders," said Pilar Cruz, Cargill’s Chief Sustainability Officer.

“Accelerating our commitment is a testament to our resolve to make real, tangible progress against deforestation and land conversion, in line with our climate action plan, while also supporting the livelihoods of farmers and agricultural communities that are vital to feeding the world.”    

According to a New York Times report in 2019, Cargill was the largest soy trader operating in the Amazon but Chinese companies buy most of Brazil’s soy.

Cargill was dubbed "The Worst Company in the World" by a global environmental watchdog in 2019 due to its "serious ongoing problems with deforestation."