A comprehensive study led by the conservation group Mighty Earth examined the Amazon and found troubling links between beef production and forest loss. It highlights that a significant share of beef sold in Brazilian supermarkets comes from slaughterhouses owned by three major players, JBS, Marfrig, and Minerva. These companies have been linked to deforestation spanning more than half a million hectares in the Amazon, an area large enough to reshape ecosystems and threaten biodiversity.
The report uses a broad lens to show how meat consumption and the systems that support cattle farming contribute to forest clearing. It notes, however, that many additional firms in the sector are active in the chain and may contribute to Amazon deforestation by exporting their products beyond Brazil’s borders.
Mighty Earth collaborated with AidEnvironment to track forest loss through satellite imagery and introduced a mobile tool named Do Pasto ao Prato, or From pasture to plate, to trace beef from shelves in Carrefour, Casino, and Sendas supermarkets. The project also helped locate slaughterhouses across Brazil, offering a clearer view of where deforestation pressures originate.
<p classings on area monitored in the study and the intensity of deforestation reveal how quickly landscapes can change when livestock supply chains expand. The initiative also emphasizes the importance of monitoring and accountability to curb expansion and to protect vulnerable forested regions.
The organization has launched a rapid surveillance program aimed at detecting new deforestation linked to livestock and soybean supply chains in Brazil. The goal is to intervene early, warn companies, and discourage trade with farms and slaughterhouses tied to forest fires or clearing activities.
The intent is to prevent further environmental damage and to halt a trend where deforestation may escalate from hundreds to thousands of hectares if not checked.
Key results
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The study identified 546,108 hectares of deforestation between 2009 and 2023, an area far larger than many urban centers. The data show farms supplying 36 slaughterhouses run by JBS, Marfrig, and Minerva across seven Brazilian states.
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The analysis drew on a sample of 1,009 beef products observed between July and September 2023 via the Do Pasto ao Prato app at 71 Brazilian locations owned by Carrefour, Casino/Pão de Açúcar, and Sendas/Assaí, spanning 27 cities.
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Thirteen slaughterhouses associated with high deforestation levels were identified, with ten of them owned by JBS, the world’s largest beef processor.
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The combined deforestation linked to direct and indirect agricultural suppliers of the three Brazilian meat companies amounts to 94,258 hectares from 2021 through 2023. If these products are exported, they would not align with the European Union Deforestation Regulation standards, which aim to ban imports tied to illegal forest clearance in the Amazon.
Aerial views of the deforestation process in the Amazon accompany the study, underscoring the scale of landscape change and the visibility of forest loss to observers and regulators alike.
five studies
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The report highlights five real-time studies of deforestation in the Amazon and Cerrado, recently confirmed through visual assessment. These studies identified 2,109 hectares of forest loss linked to cattle operations connected to supermarkets in Brazil, including Carrefour, Casino, and Sendas.
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JBS did not respond to Mighty Earth regarding its ties to the five case studies cited in the report.
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One case study recorded 1,489 hectares of Amazon rainforest cleared at a single farm with business links to JBS.
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The report notes that 13,940 hectares of natural vegetation remain on the five case study farms, potentially at risk of conversion to pasture.
The full report is published by Mighty Earth, with data and findings accessible through official releases from the organization. The study and its datasets are cited as evidence of ongoing concerns about forest clearance tied to beef supply chains in Brazil.
Inquiries and verification steps were conducted in collaboration with environmental bodies, researchers, and satellite data analysts to ensure transparency of methods and findings. The project continues to advocate for stronger oversight, traceability, and accountability across the meat industry to protect the Amazon.
Source information and data summaries are attributed to Mighty Earth for verification and context in ongoing discussions about deforestation and supply chain responsibility, as reported by the organization in 2023.
Notes on data presented in the study emphasize caution when interpreting regional variations and the need for continued monitoring to understand long-term trends and impact on forest ecosystems.