Brazil’s meat processors could drive greener cattle production, studies say

Brazil’s meat processors could become the practical engine behind a greener cattle industry in the Amazon. Two studies released by environmental group Imaflora argue that slaughterhouses can make individual traceability easier for producers and help prevent cattle from coming from deforested areas.

The studies draw on pilot projects in Pará, where the institute worked with Amigos de la Tierra. The project supported 59 suppliers in introducing individual traceability for 26,000 cattle. The researchers say processors can also encourage small producers to adopt sustainable practices through financial incentives, shared funding, technical assistance and help with documentation.

One central recommendation is that processors make traceability a requirement for their suppliers. Because they concentrate much of the production chain, the plants can reduce uncertainty among farmers and guide them through the necessary procedures, said Bruno Vello, Imaflora’s public policy coordinator.

The research found that medium-sized plants could move quickly by combining their environmental-management and cattle-sourcing structures with field assistance. If companies with greater capacity replicated the strategy, the share of individually identified cattle in Pará could rise from 0.2% in 2025 to 30.2% in 2030, representing about 7.5 million animals.

The studies also caution against simply imposing new requirements on producers. The main cost is the tracking equipment, an electronic chip placed in an ear tag, and that expense initially falls on the farmer. Natália Grossi of Amigos de la Tierra said this creates resistance among small cattle-raising families. The proposed response includes financial incentives, shared financing and continuing technical support.

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Because plants concentrate the production chain, they help reduce producers’ doubts and can guide them through the procedures, which is why they are vital for implementing traceability.