cattle
Newsletter
Credit: Annie Spratt/Unsplash
Slaughterhouses ordered to pay for deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon
A Brazilian judge has ordered two beef slaughterhouses and three ranchers to pay $764,000 for contributing to deforestation in a protected Amazon rainforest area.
In short:
- Two slaughterhouses, Distriboi and Frigon, were found guilty of buying cattle from illegally deforested land in Rondonia’s Jaci-Parana reserve.
- The $764,000 penalty includes $453,000 for reforesting 232 hectares of land that was converted to pasture.
- This case is one of several lawsuits seeking damages from companies involved in the illegal cattle trade in the Amazon.
Key quote:
“When a slaughterhouse, whether by negligence or intent, buys and resells products from invaded and illegally deforested reserves, it is clear that it is directly benefiting from these illegal activities.”
— Judge Inês Moreira da Costa
Why this matters:
The Amazon is vital for global climate regulation, and deforestation driven by cattle farming threatens its survival. Legal action against companies involved in illegal deforestation is crucial for protecting this essential ecosystem.
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Credit: Nataly Reinch/Big Stock Photo
Cattle block Nigerian capital’s roads as herders struggle to find grazing land
Nigeria's capital city Abuja is increasingly disrupted by cattle blocking roads as climate change and urban development force Fulani herders to seek pasture in the city.
In short:
- Climate change and urban expansion have destroyed traditional grazing lands in northern Nigeria, pushing herders into urban areas like Abuja.
- Fulani herders, who dominate West Africa’s cattle industry, now struggle with reduced access to free grazing, leading to frequent clashes with city life.
- Proposals to solve the issue include reviving government grazing reserves and providing financial incentives to herders.
Key quote:
“The government should revive the gazetted grazing reserves fitted with the infrastructure for water and fodder production, training and veterinary services and generate jobs and revenues.”
— Baba Ngelzarma, president of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria
Why this matters:
The conflict between herders and urban development reflects broader challenges in balancing traditional livelihoods with modernization, exacerbated by climate change. Addressing this requires coordinated action to support both the livestock industry and urban planning.
Read more: West Africa's early heat wave signals climate change's impact
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Credit: 1photo/Big Stock Photo
Tracking the hidden origins of Amazon beef in global markets
Journalist Marcel Gomes has revealed a complex global supply chain connecting Amazon deforestation to beef in U.S. and European markets.
In short:
- Marcel Gomes of Repórter Brasil traced beef from JBS, the largest meat processor, back to Brazilian ranches involved in illegal deforestation.
- His investigative work led to major European retailers halting their purchases of JBS beef, though tainted products remain on shelves.
- Gomes emphasizes the need for better tracking systems in Brazil to prevent "cattle laundering" and ensure cleaner supply chains.
Key quote:
“We need to change the system in Brazil, to find a new way to trace the cattle moving between farms and to stop cattle laundering.”
— Marcel Gomes, investigative journalist
Why this matters:
For consumers worldwide, especially those conscious of their dietary choices' ecological impacts, this connection raises concerns about the sustainability and ethics of the beef they consume. It also places pressure on regulatory bodies and governments to enforce more stringent standards on multinational corporations like JBS to ensure they uphold environmental commitments and prevent further illegal deforestation.
Peter Dykstra: “I could lose five pounds just writing down why I’m a climate-writing, meat-eating, climate-destroying hypocrite.”
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Credit; Hans Schwarzkopf/Pixabay
Forests versus cattle: which is more profitable for the Amazon?
A recent shift in the Amazon rainforest could see trees outcompeting cattle ranching as a more profitable use of land, thanks to the burgeoning carbon credit market.
In short:
- Companies like Re.green are buying large tracts of Amazonian land for forest restoration, aiming to sell carbon credits rather than engage in traditional cattle ranching.
- This new approach involves planting native trees on degraded pastures and maintaining them permanently to store carbon.
- Skeptics exist, especially among local ranchers, but the worsening effects of climate change might push more to consider this alternative.
Key quote:
“We are killing pasture that a lot of farmers need."
— Josias Araújo, a former cowboy who now works in reforestation
Why this matters:
The transformation of degraded pastures into forested land represents a potential shift in economic priorities from cattle to carbon credits and serves as an important strategy in combating climate change. Protecting and restoring the Amazon could provide significant ecological and economic benefits, encouraging sustainable practices that could extend beyond local communities to global markets.
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Credit: Juliana e Mariana Amorim/Unsplash
Climate change challenges Brazil's beef industry
Brazil's beef industry faces a potential 25% reduction in production by 2050 if it fails to adapt to stringent climate policies and forest conservation efforts.
In short:
- Brazil's beef production might decrease by a quarter by 2050 due to enhanced climate and forest conservation measures.
- The cattle industry faces significant financial risks unless it adopts new technologies and sustainable practices.
- Deforestation linked to cattle ranching exacerbates climate change, negatively affecting cattle health and soil productivity.
Key quote:
"The future of the Brazilian cattle sector is set to look very different to how it appears and operates today."
— Niamh McCarthy, director of Orbitas
Why this matters:
Rising temperatures, altered rainfall patterns, and increased frequency of extreme weather events such as droughts and floods are expected to impact pasture quality and water availability, crucial for cattle grazing. These environmental changes can lead to reduced feed quality and availability, stressing cattle and potentially decreasing meat and milk production.
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Hay consumption strains Colorado River's water supply
In a revealing study, researchers pinpoint cattle-feed crops like alfalfa as major consumers of Colorado River's water, stirring debates on water use efficiency and sustainability.
In short:
- Cattle-feed crops, primarily alfalfa, account for 46% of the water diverted from the Colorado River, emphasizing agriculture's heavy water usage.
- The study offers a comprehensive look at water distribution across the Western U.S. and Mexico, aiming to guide future water conservation efforts.
- Agriculture's significant share of water use, compared to urban demands, highlights the urgent need for strategic crop management and conservation initiatives.
Key quote:
“It’s important to understand where all of the water goes. This is the first complete and detailed accounting.”
— Brian Richter, lead researcher
Why this matters:
Alfalfa, known for its high water needs, is a key crop in the agricultural profile of states like Arizona and California, both of which rely heavily on the Colorado River for irrigation. The crop's cultivation consumes more water than any other in California, and it's a major user in Arizona as well, states that are already facing water allocation challenges due to the river's overextension.
Keep reading...Show less
Credit: John Kakuk/Unsplash
Texas ranchers face long-term recovery from devastating wildfires
In the wake of massive Texas wildfires, cattle ranchers grapple with extensive losses and a challenging path to recovery.
In short:
- The Smokehouse Creek fire, one of the largest in U.S. history, has decimated over 2,000 square miles of grazing land, affecting tens of thousands of cattle.
- With an estimated multi-year recovery for pastures and significant uninsured infrastructure damage, Texas agriculture braces for prolonged hardship.
- While the immediate beef supply remains stable, the community confronts ongoing drought, erratic weather patterns, and the looming threat of future wildfires.
Key quote:
“We just have these aberrant years one way or the other and it seems to be boom or bust, regrettably. We kind of grow accustomed to these events on a regular basis."
— Jared Blankenship, Texas Farm Bureau Federation representative
Why this matters:
This story highlights the fragile interplay between climate extremes and agriculture, emphasizing the broader implications of such disasters on food security and rural livelihoods, pivotal in both local and national contexts.
Explainer: How do wildfires impact your health?
Keep reading...Show less
ORIGINAL REPORTING
MOST POPULAR
CLIMATE
