If major traders walk away, this conservation success story collapses.
This is not a minor policy change - it is the dismantling of one of the strongest rainforest protections on Earth.
Much of that destruction was driven by soy for global animal feed markets.
After NGOs (inc. Greenpeace), the Brazilian government and soy traders agreed to the ASM, Amazon deforestation fell steeply - by 84% between 2004 and 2012.
It is one of the clearest success stories in conservation history.
Conservation groups warn this could unravel nearly two decades of progress.
Before the moratorium, Amazon deforestation was spiralling: In 2004 alone, 28,000 km² was destroyed: about 1.5× the size of Wales.
So why leave?
Because the agribusiness sector has been waging a sustained political and legal assault on the agreement.
This now includes:
• an investigation by Brazil’s federal competition agency
• and a new law in Mato Grosso stripping tax breaks from companies that follow it
Why does this matter? The ASM was established in 2006 after global outrage over runaway Amazon destruction.
It bans traders from buying soy grown on land deforested after 2008.
It is credited with saving an area of rainforest roughly the size of Ireland.
ICYMI: A major blow to Amazon protection is unfolding in Brazil.
ABIOVE, the powerful soy trade group representing Cargill, Bunge and ADM, says it is pulling out of the Amazon Soy Moratorium (ASM), one of the most effective anti-deforestation agreements ever created.
I hope someone draws this wonderful story about Tom Stoppard's Arcadia and the power of the arts to help us see things differently, to the attention of our Education Secretary. Do read it, it will lift your spirits.
NEW from Unearthed:
England's water companies have borrowed over £10bn in 'green' bonds, while failing to tackle the sewage crisis
unearthed.greenpeace.org/2025/11/30/w...
Bayer - sponsor of the "Agrizone" at COP30 - also sponsors a podcast which in 2023 interviewed a notorious climate change denier
On the episode, Luiz Carlos Molion says the IPCC spreads “climate terrorism” and CO2's effect is too small to measure.
More:
unearthed.greenpeace.org/2025/11/11/c...
NEW: The "Agrizone" at COP30 is supposed to be a showcase for sustainable agriculture 🌳
But its sponsors are powerful agribusiness interests linked to deforestation and anti-conservation lobbying who have paid for visibility and "image gain"
Read more 👇:
Brilliant video put together by @theguardian.com from footage we gathered investigating new fashion dumps polluting protected wetlands in Ghana
We found Next, M&S, George garments in the conservation area, and H&M, Zara, Primark in a 3rd dump upstream
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
My new investigation for @unearthednews.bsky.social — we found truly shocking scenes of UK labels washed ashore, and vast illegal fast fashion dumps mushrooming in a beautiful conservation area in Ghana 👇
My new investigation for @unearthednews.bsky.social — we found truly shocking scenes of UK labels washed ashore, and vast illegal fast fashion dumps mushrooming in a beautiful conservation area in Ghana 👇
NEW INVESTIGATION:
Despite rulings from the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority, major brands including car manufacturers, an airline, and a bottled water company have repeated ‘misleading’ green claims.
Read the investigation w/ @theguardian.com here:
unearthed.greenpeace.org/2025/05/14/m...
Vacancy: Three-week summer journalism internship at Carbon Brief
Carbon Brief is offering an exciting opportunity for students, or recent graduates, to work with the team for three weeks this summer.
Deadline: 02 June, 9AM BST
Apply here ➡️ buff.ly/ypeV1mr
ICYMI:
After billion-dollar corruption scandals and repeated deforestation stories, much of JBS's image rehabilitation has rested on its promise to clean up its supply chain by the end of the year
Ranchers told us it isn't going to happen:
unearthed.greenpeace.org/2025/04/17/j...
Corporate climate pledges are unravelling. From BP to JBS, @hannahdaly.ie unpacks the ongoing corporate retreat from accountability, including insights from our investigation into Brazilian beef giant JBS and its Amazon deforestation promises
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
New column: Weakening corporate climate pledges doesn’t bode well for momentum on global climate action - taking examples from fossil fuel and beef giants BP and JBS.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
BREAKING:
More than 100 old landfills across England containing potentially hazardous material have flooded at least once this century.
Experts have raised concerns that dangerous substances could get into the environment through floodwater.
unearthed.greenpeace.org/2025/04/26/h...
Over 100 old landfills across England containing potentially hazardous material have flooded at least once this century, while 2,600 sites are close to watercourses across England, according to our new investigation.
unearthed.greenpeace.org/2025/04/26/h...
Ranchers and industry insiders told us that pledge was nowhere near being fulfilled.
They said laundering of cattle from "dirty" to "clean" farms is endemic.
Now this NYSE listing could almost double JBS market value to $30 billion.
🌳 The listing will give JBS funds to continue expanding. Its role in Amazon deforestation has been well-documented
🐄 Under international scrutiny, in 2021 JBS promised that by Jan 2026 it would ensure it as not buying any cows raised on recently-razed land
unearthed.greenpeace.org/2025/04/17/j...
BREAKING: Brazil meat giant JBS has received approval from the SEC for its plan to list on the New York Stock Exchange.
The new comes days after we revealed its pledge to rid its vast Amazon beef supply chain of deforestation by January is likely to be broken
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
When huge Brazilian beef producer JBS broke its first zero-deforestation promise, it had 14 slaughterhouses in the Amazon. Today, it has 22 operating, with the capacity to slaughter more than 19,000 cattle daily.
We asked ranchers about its latest pledge to clean up its supply chain, by Jan 2026.
Most said, given the progress so far, the tech limitations of many small farmers, and the sheer scale of routine cattle laundering and deforestation, it was unlikely to be achieved.
Our latest investigation with @theguardian.com and @reporterbrasil.org.br:
unearthed.greenpeace.org/2025/04/17/j...
When huge Brazilian beef producer JBS broke its first zero-deforestation promise, it had 14 slaughterhouses in the Amazon. Today, it has 22 operating, with the capacity to slaughter more than 19,000 cattle daily.
We asked ranchers about its latest pledge to clean up its supply chain, by Jan 2026.
Full investigation, with @theguardian.com and @reporterbrasil.org.br , here:
unearthed.greenpeace.org/2025/04/17/j...
Huge Brazilian beef company JBS says its vast, multi-step Amazon supply chain will be deforestation-free by the end of the year.
We went to the Amazon to speak to farmers on the ground.
Most of them said hitting the target by 2026 was impossible, and cattle laundering was still routine
🌳 We went to the Amazon to ask dozens of ranchers and industry insiders on the ground what THEY think about whether a zero-deforestation promise made by Brazilian beef behemoth JBS is feasible.
The majority said, in so many words, NOPE
Full story here:
unearthed.greenpeace.org/2025/04/17/j...
