Leading aquafeed producer Skretting is warning suppliers against being tempted into sourcing soy planted on land ravaged by deliberate forest fires in Brazil.
“We have contacted our suppliers in Brazil to raise our concern as we are concerned about the soy value chain,” said Skretting Sustainability Manager, Trygve Berg Lea.
Recent weeks have seen a marked increase in the number of fires in the Amazon. Fires are now so severe that fire and smoke can be detected from space.
By mid-August, Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE) had counted more than 41,000 spot fires in the Brazilian Amazon so far this year, compared with 22,000 in the same period last year.
Skretting, which purchases soy from Brazil, said although it has no reason to believe that soybean farmers in its supply chain hold any responsibility for the fires in the Amazon, recent developments can be devastating to the reputation of soy from Brazil in the aquaculture value chain.
Recent developments will rightly lead to increased pressure from environmental organisations and consumers not to accept soy from Brazil in aquaculture feeds, the company said.
Skretting has spoken with the NGO Rainforest Foundation Norway about its purchases of soy from Brazil.
With the Rainforest Foundation pushing to stop what is happening in Brazil, Skretting is in full support of its concern and engagement.
“Skretting has long recognized the importance of flexibility in our ingredient formulation and supply chain, and our work in this area continues to advance rapidly with alternative ingredients," said Skretting CEO, Therese Log Bergjord.
"The developments in Brazil show how important our many years of R&D will be to ensure future growth and minimize supply risks. Thanks to this, we are capable of being flexible and adapting to challenging situations.”
While Skretting said it respects Brazil's sovereignty to use its own resources to fight the fire, the Amazon is also of concern for the whole planet, Berg Lea added.
The Amazon rainforest is cited as contributing a significant percentage of the oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere.
It is home to rich and diverse flora and fauna along with being home to many indigenous communities who have lived in the forest for many generations. The destruction of the forest can lead to a complete change in the ecology of the region as the forest consumes almost all the carbon produced by the people of the South American continent.
Cargill speaks out
Rival feed producer Cargill said it views the situation in Brazil very seriously and sets clear rules for suppliers. In Norway the company uses is 100 percent ProTerra certified soy, which stipulates that it cannot come from land deforested after 2009.
"There are some very valuable habitats in Brazil which need protection, and we will contact our suppliers to discuss our concerns," Cargill Sustainability Manager Dave Robb said.
"We believe that being part of the supply chain is the best way to influence and improve it. If we find unsustainable practices in our supply chain, we will work with our suppliers to quickly and effectively correct them – not walk away."
Brazilian far right President Jair Bolsonaro has so far refused an offer of $20 million (€18 million) from the G7 countries following criticism of his environmental record by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Bolsonaro, a close ally of Brazil's agribusiness sector, was previously accused of implicitly backing the clearing of land through the use of fire by cattle ranchers, loggers and others. At one stage, the Brazilian leader accused NGOs of starting the fires.
But amid international pressure since the end of last week, he pledged zero tolerance for environmental crimes, ordering thousands of soldiers to tackle the fires.
In a statement, Aprosoja, the trade body representing Brazil's soy farmers, condemned illegal deforestation and "any form of native vegetation suppression that is not legally authorized."
"Farmers are the main victims of these crimes as they have their properties, crops and preservation areas under their responsibility threatened by the flames," the statement said.
