Through an innovative collaboration with Brazilian civil society groups Imaflora and ICV in 2020, Trase helped to reveal the scale of illegal deforestation on soy farms in Mato Grosso, the largest soy-producing state in Brazil. The study found that nearly 30% of all deforestation in the state between 2012 and 2017 occurred on soy farms, with almost all soy deforestation occurring on only a few hundred farms, and a staggering 95% of the deforestation being illegal. Much of this soy was exported to the EU and China.
This study catalysed action on illegal deforestation in Brazil's soy supply chain by leading private and public sector actors in both Brazil and Europe. The findings were presented in key business forums in Europe and was cited in an open letter to the UK Government signed by global food companies, including McDonald's, Unilever and Tesco, calling for more ambition in its due diligence consultation process on addressing global deforestation. It was also cited by members of the European Parliament as part of discussions on the EU deforestation regulation.
In Brazil, the research was taken up by the Brazilian Federal Public Prosecutors (MPF), who issued a legal notification to the soy industry. This led to a series of engagements between the MPF and soy associations to address illegal deforestation by targeting a small number of farms that are responsible for the majority of illegal deforestation linked to soy in the state.
Trase has been a tremendous partner for ICV. The publication of this study marked a true milestone – not only in the context of our zero-deforestation supply chain strategy, but also as a model of effective partnership and collaborative work. Even five years later, the study remains a major reference for data on illegality in supply chains.
Alice Thuault, Executive Director, ICV