Deforestation-free beef is possible in the Amazon – here’s how business can contribute

The document highlights the environmental impact of Brazilian beef production and proposes a transition to a deforestation-free model. It focuses on the state of Pará's mandatory cattle traceability programme as a scalable solution that could increase the annual value of cattle production from $2 billion to $2.9 billion. The author calls for global companies to support this transition through market signals, investments in sustainable supply, and formal purchase agreements to decouple beef production from habitat loss.

• Brazilian beef production is a significant driver of environmental degradation, contributing to nearly 25% of annual tropical habitat loss and pushing the Amazon toward a climate tipping point that threatens global food security and Brazilian agricultural productivity.
• The Brazilian state of Pará launched the country's first mandatory cattle traceability programme with environmental requirements in 2023. A study by Bain suggests that successfully eliminating deforestation and conversion from the supply chain could increase the annual value of cattle production in the state by 45%, rising from $2 billion to $2.9 billion.
• To ensure the success of sustainable beef transitions, the document identifies three specific actions for global companies: issuing expressions of interest to signal market demand, investing in cost-sharing initiatives to build sustainable supply, and establishing formal purchase agreements for traceable commodities.
• Global food systems are primary drivers of emissions and habitat loss, with beef production alone accounting for 7% of global emissions. Commodity production—specifically beef, soy, and palm oil—is responsible for 40% of total global deforestation.

APA

Forum, J. M. J. H. W. E. (2025). Deforestation-free beef is possible in the Amazon – here’s how business can contribute. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/food-water-air/beef-deforestation-amazon/

Chicago

Forum, Jennifer Morris, Jack Hurd, World Economic. Deforestation-free beef is possible in the Amazon – here’s how business can contribute. World Economic Forum, 2025. https://www.weforum.org/stories/food-water-air/beef-deforestation-amazon/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Forum |first1=Jennifer Morris, Jack Hurd, World Economic |title=Deforestation-free beef is possible in the Amazon – here’s how business can contribute |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=21 January 2025 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/food-water-air/beef-deforestation-amazon/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{forum2025deforestationfree, author = {Forum, Jennifer Morris, Jack Hurd, World Economic}, title = {{Deforestation-free beef is possible in the Amazon – here’s how business can contribute}}, publisher = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2025}, month = jan, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/food-water-air/beef-deforestation-amazon/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }