Major agricultural commodity-producing countries are seeing environmental enforcement rollbacks amid the coronavirus pandemic. In Brazil and Southeast Asia, concerns about worker safety and limited resources have reduced environmental law enforcement, including the protection of forests and indigenous peoples. These developments increase exposure to deforestation risks for agricultural companies and their investors. In Brazil, the country’s …
China’s reliance on imported soy and beef could continue to rise as the country is facing food shortages and worries persist that the coronavirus pandemic may cause further supply chain interruptions. This situation is stimulating incentives for exporting countries such as Brazil to increase volumes to China. A combination of limited labor, seeds, and fertilizer …
Prima Foods SA, a meatpacker based in Brazil, is planning to launch an initial public offering (IPO). Prima Foods’ share offering is expected to be BRL 1 billion (USD 222 million). The company operates three slaughterhouses, which are located in Goias, Minais Gerias, and Mato Grosso do Sul, and almost two-thirds of its sales are …
Recent pressure from investors and NGOs have facilitated downstream actors to either adopt new zero-deforestation commitments or enhance existing pledges. This year is key for major consumer-facing companies as many have targeted 2020 to completely eliminate deforestation from their supply chains. But the industry as a whole has fallen short of this goal, with some …
Carrefour is expanding its operations in Brazil. Last week, Carrefour Brasil said that it is purchasing 30 retail stores from Makro Atacadista SA for almost BRL 2 billion (USD 456 million). The stores are located throughout 17 Brazilian states (see graphic below). The expansion, which will increase its Brazilian market share by 1.5 percent, would require …
BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, recently released a report on its engagement with agricultural firms and the risks and opportunities the industry faces connected to environmental and social (E&S) issues. The communication comes just weeks after the investment firm joined the Climate Action 100+ group and emphasized that climate change is now central to …
Brazilian meatpacker JBS has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chinese company WH Group to boost its sales of fresh meat in China, where consumption is rising at a rapid pace. This deal could bring in 3 billion Brazilian real (USD 717 million) per year for the two companies, and first shipments should begin …
The trend to integrate sustainability factors into financial regulatory frameworks is creating compliance, legal and reputational risks for local banks and investors financing forest-risk commodities in tropical countries. International banks and investors exposed to these supply chains may also be affected. Based on public sources and interviews, this report analyses the integration of sustainability in …
A group of lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives last month sent letters to major U.S.-based financial institutions calling on them to take specific actions to influence agricultural companies to reduce deforestation in Brazil. The letters, spearheaded by Rashida Tlaib (Democrat-Michigan), highlight the financial sector’s investments in firms that are exposed to deforestation risks …
By revenue, Walmart is the largest company in the world, employing about 2.2 million people and serving over 265 million customers a week. Private-label products sold by Walmart contain commodities that contribute to deforestation. For the forest-risk commodities – palm oil, pulp and paper, soy, and beef – Walmart has set zero net deforestation goals for 2020. Although …
