Mato Grosso used to stand for nearly a third of the total Brazilian deforestation. It is also currently the leading state for both soy and beef production (Fearnside & Figueiredo, 2015). With initiatives from private stakeholders and government, Mato Grosso’s share of deforestation has been steadily decreasing since 2008 (Fearnside & Figueiredo, 2015). Three major stakeholders were identified in the beef value chain and the institutions that frame their workings (Figure 5).
Figure 5: Image illustrating the relationship between the different stakeholders, institutions and regulations in the Brazilian beef value chain. Source: Composed with information from (Stokes, Lowe, & Zoubek, 2014)
Regulating cattle ranchers on a national level is the …show more content…
Next in the value chain are the beef processors. In 2013, three corporations stood for 37% of the market share (Stokes et al., 2014). These corporations have agreed on the voluntary Terms of Adjusted Conduct which is a de facto moratorium on cattle originating from illegally deforested land. While the larger processors have the resources to monitor their suppliers, the smaller often lack the sufficient means do to so (Stokes et al., 2014). The largest importer of Amazon agricultural products is China (WWF, 2016). Chinese demand for soy incentives the expansion of soy farming which in turn pressures the conversion of pastures into farmland. This could in turn pressure the conversion of forests into new pastures. Growing Chinese demand for beef could also increases the rate of deforestation. By 2011, China had become Brazil’s largest trading partner and the main source of Brazilian agricultural products (Torkjell Leira; Rainfrorest Foundation Norway, 2014). The Brazilian government’s capability to tackle the issue of deforestation is very limited. Especially the rural landowning class in the country, whose influence has been growing as a result …show more content…
Though cultivated area dedicated to soy farming is growing, the expansion is not directed towards native vegetation but instead previously cleared land (Gibbs et al., 2015). By 2013, soy stood for less than 1% of the deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon (Gibbs et al., 2015). Initiatives can be concluded enacted by meat processors and food retailers have been very effective in slowing down the tide of deforestation. This can be seen clearly in Mato Grosso. In its peak in 2003 (Figure 6), nearly 11.000 km2 were deforested in the state. In 2010, 800 km2 was
Figure 5: Image illustrating the relationship between the different stakeholders, institutions and regulations in the Brazilian beef value chain. Source: Composed with information from (Stokes, Lowe, & Zoubek, 2014)
Regulating cattle ranchers on a national level is the …show more content…
Next in the value chain are the beef processors. In 2013, three corporations stood for 37% of the market share (Stokes et al., 2014). These corporations have agreed on the voluntary Terms of Adjusted Conduct which is a de facto moratorium on cattle originating from illegally deforested land. While the larger processors have the resources to monitor their suppliers, the smaller often lack the sufficient means do to so (Stokes et al., 2014). The largest importer of Amazon agricultural products is China (WWF, 2016). Chinese demand for soy incentives the expansion of soy farming which in turn pressures the conversion of pastures into farmland. This could in turn pressure the conversion of forests into new pastures. Growing Chinese demand for beef could also increases the rate of deforestation. By 2011, China had become Brazil’s largest trading partner and the main source of Brazilian agricultural products (Torkjell Leira; Rainfrorest Foundation Norway, 2014). The Brazilian government’s capability to tackle the issue of deforestation is very limited. Especially the rural landowning class in the country, whose influence has been growing as a result …show more content…
Though cultivated area dedicated to soy farming is growing, the expansion is not directed towards native vegetation but instead previously cleared land (Gibbs et al., 2015). By 2013, soy stood for less than 1% of the deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon (Gibbs et al., 2015). Initiatives can be concluded enacted by meat processors and food retailers have been very effective in slowing down the tide of deforestation. This can be seen clearly in Mato Grosso. In its peak in 2003 (Figure 6), nearly 11.000 km2 were deforested in the state. In 2010, 800 km2 was