UK meat driving massive loss of Brazilian rainforest11 October 2010
Take Greater London and double it. That's how much Brazilian wilderness is estimated to have been destroyed last year as a result of British beef and soy imports.
A new report estimates that 1,200 square miles of Brazil's forest and grassland were lost in 2009 thanks to demand for Brazilian soy animal feed for British factory farms, along with imports of beef, poultry and pork.
Friends of the Earth's report From Forest to Fork comes ahead of a major UN meeting on wildlife and natural resources next week.
It includes the first estimate of the link between the meat we eat in the UK and deforestation in Brazil.
The report shows that:
- Demand for beef, soy and sugarcane is placing a huge strain on the environment and people's livelihoods in Brazil.
- This pressure can only be tackled by reducing demand for these globally-traded commodities.
We can fix the food chain
Friends of the Earth is calling on the Government to pass Robert Flello MP's Sustainable Livestock Bill - aimed at reducing the impact of UK factory farms.
Factory farms - dependent on feeding animals soy protein grown in South America - are subsidised by UK taxpayers to the tune of £700 million a year.
Vicki Hird, Senior Food Campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: "The Government must support British farmers to feed their animals homegrown feed"
The link between factory farms and rainforest destruction in South America can be broken - so our Sunday roast doesn't cost the Earth
Vicki Hird, Food Campaigner, Friends of the Earth
If the Bill becomes law, it will see the Government
- supporting more environmentally friendly systems with animals fed grains grown in the UK
- helping consumers choose a planet-friendly diet.
Please urge your MP to back our Bill for rainforest-free food and thriving UK farms.
Join Friends of the Earth's MOOvement at www.jointheMOOvement.com
