July 12, 2024

 

China and Brazil to launch pilot scheme for sustainable beef production

China, the world's largest beef importer, and Brazil, the biggest supplier, will initiate a pilot scheme aimed at making beef production more sustainable, Reuters reported.

 

Beef is considered one of the most emissions-intensive forms of food, particularly in Brazil, where food production has been linked to the clearance of carbon-trapping forests.

 

China's state administration for market regulation has met with Brazilian institutions to discuss methods to ensure transparency in the beef supply chain and the establishment of a cross-border traceability platform, as reported by CCTV. Further details on the timing of the initiative were not provided.

 

Both countries agreed that a unified global standard would be central to the traceability system, which would also help combat counterfeit beef.

 

Chinese companies have traditionally prioritized price over sustainability but are gradually showing more interest in greener supplies.

 

Unlike sustainability efforts in the West, which are often consumer-led, China's shift is primarily driven by policy signals and investor pressure.

 

Traders and sustainability analysts, however, caution that higher costs and logistical challenges are likely to limit demand for sustainable goods.

 

Cattle ranching in Brazil is linked to nearly 24% of global annual tropical deforestation and approximately 10% of total global greenhouse gas emissions, according to environmental organization The Nature Conservancy.

 

Cattle pasture is the most common initial use for deforested areas in the Amazon and neighbouring Cerrado savanna, a practice that faces strict legal limits but continues illegally.

 

In 2023, China imported 2.74 million metric tonnes of beef, with more than 40% sourced from Brazil, according to Chinese customs data.

 

-      Reuters