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Cargill in the Amazon and our commitment to ending deforestation in our supply chains

September 05, 2019

Cargill is committed to protecting the Amazon. Illegal deforestation and deliberate setting of fires in the Amazon is unacceptable, and along with others in the food and agriculture industry, we will continue to partner with local communities, farmers, governments, NGOs and our customers to advocate for approaches to preserve this important ecosystem.

We have firmly upheld the Brazilian Soy Moratorium in the Amazon since 2006 and do not source from newly deforested areas.

Over many decades, Cargill has formed strong and collaborative relationships with numerous NGOs to address the challenge of protecting the environment while feeding the world. We remain committed to continue to work together with NGOs through constructive partnerships.

We want to share the facts regarding Cargill in the Amazon:

1. Soy Moratorium in the Amazon

We have firmly upheld the Brazilian Soy Moratorium in the Amazon since 2006, when we partnered with industry and environmental organizations to implement this voluntary agreement to not purchase soy from lands in the Amazon biome that were deforested after July 2008. This effort has contributed to the 80 percent decline in deforestation in the Amazon in the last decade and was extended indefinitely in 2016.

We are not and will not source soy from farmers who clear land in the protected areas and we have controls in place to prevent non-compliant product from entering our – and our customers’ – supply chains.  This includes validating all supply against the Brazilian Forest Code Program through the CAR (Rural Environmental Registry) and cross-checking with the Brazilian government embargoed lists when we establish a contract, and again before receiving physical product.

2. Operating ethically and responsibly

Cargill has been and will always be committed to conducting business in a fair and responsible manner. From training 1.6 million farmers in more sustainable agricultural practices to advancing access to nutritious food and youth education in more than 54 countries, we remain firmly committed to supporting the communities where we live and work.

Cargill recognizes that we, along with others, have a commitment to protecting the earth’s resources while taking into account the world’s food needs.  We will continue to bring this commitment to life in Brazil and around the world through:

3. Upholding policies

If cases of illegal activity are confirmed, we take immediate action in line with our forest and sustainable soy policies, global Supplier Code of Conduct and soy grievance process