SHARM EL-SHEIKH, EGYPT - During the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) this week, 14 major agricultural businesses from around the world signed onto a plan to eliminate deforestation from their food and agricultural supply chain.

Companies like Cargill, JBS SA, Marfrig and Chinese pork company COFCO signed this pledge which was part of the Agriculture Sector Roadmap to 1.5°C, released at COP27 according to the World Economic Forum (WEF).

The WEF stated this was a plan for addressing forest loss in supply chains and accelerating collaboration to limit global warming to an increase of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Gilberto Tomazoni, global chief executive officer at JBS, stated that humanity is facing two current emergencies; climate change and global food production to ensure food security.

“JBS understands its responsibility as the world’s largest food company to be part of the solution and therefore the need to partner with our value chain to accelerate and scale progress,” Tomazoni said. “To make the fastest progress in Brazil, the sector must focus on the key areas and drivers of forest clearing – the Amazon and illegal deforestation. In line with our 1.5°C commitment, 2023 is a year of action to go further – together with private and public partners – to develop incentives and technical support for producers who are the key to end all deforestation.”

Marfrig’s chairman, Marcos A. Molina dos Santos, also shared his thoughts on the initiative put together by Tropical Forest Alliance.

“As one of the world’s leading agri-commodity companies, Marfrig recognizes the importance of collective action to address climate change,” he said. “Our teams have been working diligently to address deforestation and human rights issues in our supply chains, and we welcome this sector-wide initiative.”

In 2019, Cargill committed $30 million to source ideas to protect the forest and native vegetation in Brazil and provided its plans to deal with the issue going forward. 

During October 2021, the JBS Green Platform initiative explained some data-driven measures it plans to use for sustainability in the Amazon Biome.