On November 27, 2023, Cargill announced a commitment to eliminate deforestation and land-conversion from its agricultural supply chain in Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay by 2025. This commitment by Cargill is potentially a huge and long-awaited step forward for the planet and the Indigenous peoples and other traditional communities who depend on, and protect, these ecosystems.
Unfortunately, given Cargill’s long track record of breaking previous commitments – it is hard not to be skeptical. The following report documents the steps needed by Cargill to ensure that this commitment is as real on the ground as it is on paper.
We are determined to work with Cargill and its owners, the Cargill-MacMillian family, to ensure that this policy creates industry-leading standards and becomes a vehicle for sector-wide transformation.
To demonstrate good faith that Cargill will indeed uphold its new commitments, Cargill must immediately implement its existing policies. This includes not sourcing from farmers who clear land illegally, not sourcing from farmers who clear land in the Amazon Rainforest, or otherwise violate Cargill’s existing Human Rights Policy and/or Policy on Forests.
Cataloged below are a sample of egregious deforestation case-studies developed over the past five years by AidEnvironment using satellite monitoring with confirmed or suspected links to Cargill’s supply chain, many of whom are violating Cargill’s existing policy commitments.
All of these case studies have previously been raised through Cargill’s official grievance process.