On September 24, 2024, we participated in an event during New York Climate Week on the sustainability of Brazilian food systems. Organized by Transparency International Brazil and divided into two parts, the panel that ILAJUC was invited to participate in addressed Traceability, Transparency and Integrity of the Meat Supply Chain.
Brazilian meat production for export is the main cause of deforestation in areas of the Amazon, Cerrado and other biomes, which causes astronomical greenhouse gas emissions that are contrary to and undermine global commitments to protect the climate and the environment.
Imazon Executive Director Ritaumaria Pereira participated in the panel together with ILAJUC, presenting compelling data on the expansion of Amazonian occupation for cattle production, and highlighted the flaws and challenges of the data system for monitoring and tracking animals.
This was followed by a presentation by ILAJUC, represented by Luísa Luz, Director of Institutional Relations, who presented the potential financial, legal and reputational risks of holding corporations and investors accountable in light of changes in international legal parameters.
This is particularly relevant with the approval of the European Union Zero Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which imposes a zero deforestation paradigm for the production of commodities, including meat. In addition, the new European Union Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CSDDD) requires a shift to a mandatory due diligence model for companies regarding environmental and human rights practices, making them responsible not only for their own actions, but also for their entire production chain, including indirect investors and suppliers who may be linked to deforestation, environmental damage and human rights violations—such as conditions analogous to slavery or violations of the rights of traditional communities.
With the launch of the English version of our guide, we are talking directly to investors about their obligation to apply rigorous due diligence processes to prevent, mitigate and resolve human rights and environmental violations throughout the production chain of their portfolios.
Finally, Rariany Monteiro, Financial Specialist at WWF Brazil, closed the debate by presenting tools for regulation and control by the financial market of its investments, including concerns and trends in vogue in the global economic market.
The publications produced by ILAJUC and WWF can be found in Portuguese and English, both in their extended version and in the format of a practical guide with the step-by-step process that investors must adopt to ensure compliance not only with Brazilian legislation and international regulations, but also with the necessary due diligence parameters to assess the effective commitment to sustainability of the companies that receive their investments.
Read the full guide in English and Portuguese.
Read the step-by-step guide in English and Portuguese.
