Archived press release

Britons' meat-eating destroys Brazilian forest twice the size of London

10 October 2010

British imports of beef and soy for animal feed from Brazil last year are estimated to have caused the loss of an area of Brazilian rainforest and grassland twice the size of Greater London, according to a new report launched by Friends of the Earth today.

The green campaigning charity's report, From Forest to Fork, shows that increasing demand for animal feed produced in Brazil for British factory farms, along with beef imports, are estimated to have caused around 1,200 square miles of deforestation in 2009.

The report - launched in advance of a major UN meeting on wildlife and natural resources next week - is the first time an estimate has been made of the link between the meat we eat in the UK and deforestation in Brazil.

It also shows that combined demand for beef, soy and increasingly sugarcane is placing a huge strain on the environment and people's livelihoods in Brazil that can only be tackled by reducing the demand for these globally traded commodities.

Friends of the Earth is calling on the Government to introduce a Sustainable Livestock Bill to reduce the impact of meat and dairy production and consumption in the UK which is causing  wildlife, rainforest and livelihood destruction abroad.  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.

If the Bill becomes law, it will see the Government shifting support towards more environmentally friendly systems with animals fed grains grown in the UK, as well as helping consumers choose a planet-friendly diet.

Vicki Hird, Senior Food Campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said:

"Even as world leaders are meeting to discuss how to stop deforestation, the UK Government is propping up damaging factory farms with millions of pounds of taxpayers' cash - leaving the public unwittingly caught in a food system that's destroying Brazilian wildlife and rainforest.

"The Government must support British farmers to feed their animals homegrown feed - so our Sunday roast doesn't cost the Earth.

"But the link between factory farms and wildlife and rainforest destruction in South America can be broken - urge your MP to back our Bill for rainforest-free food and thriving UK farms. 

Notes to editors:

   1. Friends of the Earth's Food Campaigners, Vicki Hird, and Kirtana Chandrasekaran are available for press and pre-record broadcast interviews in advance and broadcast interviews on Sunday 10 October. Please contact the press office on 020 7566 1649 for further information.

   2. The full report is available on request - please contact the press office.

   3. The comparison between the area of deforestation and Greater London is based on the estimated size of the deforested area in Brazil being approximately 1220 square miles, and the size of Greater London being 607 square miles.

   4. The estimate of the UK's responsibility for deforestation in Brazil are based on the best available figures for deforestation caused by cropland expansion of soy from 2006 and land conversion from forest to ranching by cattle in the Legal Amazon in 2009. More details of the methodology are available in the full report.

   5. The meeting of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity is taking place in Nagoya, Japan, from 18 October to 29 October 2010. A briefing on Friends of the Earth's analysis of biodiversity issues likely to feature prominently during the conference is available on request.

   6. Friends of the Earth is calling on Ministers at the CBD to stop focussing on false solutions such as markets to trade in biodiversity and instead take immediate action to tackle the drivers of forest loss, ensure respect for land rights and implement community based forest governance.

   7. For further information about Friends of the Earth's campaign for planet- friendly farming, and to add your voice to the call for change, please visit www.jointheMOOvement.com.

   8. Friends of the Earth believes the environment is for everyone. We want a healthy planet and a good quality of life for all those who live on it. We inspire people to act together for a thriving environment. Over 90 per cent of our income comes from individuals so we rely on donations to continue our vital work. For further information visit www.foe.co.uk.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust