It is widely acknowledged that global agricultural production is a key factor behind the ongoing effects of climate change. Agriculture produces 21% of the world’s global emissions. The clearing of land in order to farm, and the farming itself, make up the majority of these emissions. These harmful emissions from agriculture greatly outweigh those from the transport and the building sector.

In order to feed the world’s population, land is being cleared in some of the most biodiverse parts of the globe, such as the Amazon rainforest. Most often, forests are replaced by livestock and crops which, in turn, generate large amounts of greenhouse gases. With a growing, increasingly urbanised population, the pressure on the food-system is greater than ever. Temperatures, rainfall, pests and disease patterns, as well as extreme weather events are some of the effects of climate change that are already putting a strain on the food-system. This pressure is affecting local populations and the environments they live in.

There are endless examples of crops produced primarily for consumers of the western world that are causing devastating environmental effects. Producing commodities for global consumption is now recognised as a key driver of socio-environmental devastation in poor areas across the world. Sugar-cane has been a central part of Brazil’s economy for centuries and has been devastating landscapes for over 500 years. Soy being produced for European animal feed drives deforestation in Argentina and Paraguay. Avocados being grown for the American and European markets are causing socio-environmental and political pressures in Mexico and Chile. There is a long list of the vast damages caused by the production of these crops for western consumption, sugar, soy and avocado being some of the most destructive crops. These crops are prime examples of why we should care about where our food comes from.

Total meat consumption in Europe is great, on average each person consumes about 32 kg of pork, 24 kg of poultry, 11 kg of beef and 2 kg of lamb and mutton in 2016. British supermarkets commonly market their meat as ‘organic’ or ‘British and free-range’ but this is only half of the story, 75% of the world’s soy is used for animal feed.

A new study by Greenpeace records has demonstrated the extent forest loss in four Argentine provinces, where 112,766 hectares were deforested in 2018. Of those, 40,965 were in areas where industrial exploitation is prohibited or restricted by law. This rapid deforestation not only harms the global environment but also local ecosystems and people’s livelihoods. 

The devastating effect that the soy industry has on the environment and GHG emissions is reason enough for radical change but the harmful effects of soy farming on humans is equally destructive. The World Health Organization has declared glyphosate, the pesticide used in Chaco for Soy, as a probable carcinogen, although Monsanto, an agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation  has defended the safety of its product. In Argentina, 19% of deaths are caused by cancer; however, in soy growing areas this jumps to 30%. There are also reports of violence towards indigenous people and their land, resulting in the displacement of these communities. It was reported indigenous woman was forced to work on a landfill site and now lives in unhealthy conditions.

Round Table on Responsible Soy Association (RTRS) is a non-profit organisation promoting the growth of production, trade, and use of responsible soy. This includes producers, suppliers, manufacturers, retailers, financial institutions, civil society organisations and other relevant players. Securing a RTRS certification ensures that the soy is produced in environmentally-sustainable, socially-appropriate and economically-viable process, deforestation and conversion-free. This is a great way to avoid un-sustainable soy.

What can consumers do?

Consumers need to make their voice heard! It is no good boycotting Mexican avocados or Brazilian sugar because this could prompt more criminal activity and take away locals’ livelihoods. Consumers need to make their expectations of the product, and its supply chain, known. There are various alternative methods of farming that can alleviate the burden on the climate, local communities, and ecosystems.