Addressing deforestation in the Brazilian Cerrado

Cargill has long been committed to eliminating deforestation and native land conversion from our supply chains. We have made significant progress and we are working to find innovative solutions to the challenge.

Cargill does not and will not supply soy from farmers who clear land illegally or in protected areas. We have the same expectations of our suppliers that they will not buy soy from illegally cleared land or from any farmers on the embargoed list. If violations are found in any area, we will take immediate action in accordance with our Supplier Code of Conduct and Policy on South American Soy.

Our commitment to change starts with engaging our farmer customers. We must identify innovative, market-based mechanisms to provide incentives for change for our farmer customers. We are striving to create visibility, transparency and insights through supply chain mapping. We are focused in those areas that demonstrate the greatest risk, so that we can work to address the most critical challenges. We will provide leadership and will do our part to deliver against customer and consumer deforestation expectations, but we also believe in the power of collective action. Sector-wide transformation is necessary to truly protect vital ecosystems.

Highlights of our recent efforts to eliminate deforestation and land conversion from our soy supply chains in South America include the following:

• More than 95% of the soy we purchased in Brazil during the 2018-19 crop year was demonstrated to be deforestation- and conversion-free (DCF).
• We have mapped 100% of our Brazilian soy farm suppliers in early 2020, completing the project six months ahead of schedule.
• We have products available to meet customers’ demands today. We are continuing to grow our Triple S (Sustainably Sourced and Supplied) certification program in Brazil and Paraguay, providing a large market for soybeans grown through verified sustainable methods.
• We believe farmer engagement, not exclusion, is critical to transforming the soy supply chain in the Cerrado. We believe in working with farmers to mainstream implementation of the Brazilian Forest Code in the shortest time possible.
• We are working to source innovative ideas to address land conversion through our $30 million land innovation and sustainable livelihoods fund. The fund has four farm-focused innovation pathways across which grants are being funded: finance, production, engagement, and conservation in three critical biomes across five countries in South America.

We will continue to work diligently to address deforestation and land conversion in all of our supply chains, including in the Brazilian Cerrado. Cargill’s ambition is to operate the most sustainable supply chains in food and agriculture as we work to fulfill our purpose to nourish the world in a safe, responsible, sustainable way.