Livestock Traceability: The Challenges and Progress for Minerva Foods in South America

Tamara Lopes, Corporate Executive Sustainability Manager, Minerva Foods

According to a study published in July by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), world beef production is expected to reach 59.6 million tons of carcass equivalent (CEC) in 2023. This report predicts that Brazil will remain in second place, behind the United States, with an estimated production of 10.65 million tons.

Given its significant contribution to global beef production and the resulting impact on the environment, Brazil is at the forefront of the climate change discussions. It is actively taking measures to ensure traceability of its cattle and certify the origin of products for consumers. For instance, Minerva Foods has been geographically monitoring 100 percent of its purchases throughout the country since 2020. Furthermore, it has been extending its efforts to all South American countries where it operates.

The company issued its sustainability commitment just over two years ago, with the goal of achieving zero illegal deforestation in its entire supply chain in South America by 2030 through the expansion of geographic monitoring of direct supplier ranches. The company is making good progress towards achieving this goal, despite still having seven years remaining, having achieved full monitoring in three of the five countries in which it operates, Paraguay, Colombia, and Brazil.

The traceability of direct suppliers in other countries is also advancing. Geographic monitoring in Argentina is currently around 90 percent. The target is to achieve 100 percent monitoring by 2030. In Uruguay, where the aim is to achieve full traceability by 2025, they have already made progress of over 20 percent.

Cattle traceability addresses issues such as human rights, deforestation, and greenhouse gas emissions, all of which are criteria used to meet trade requirements in demanding markets such as the United States and Europe

To support the direct suppliers, Minerva Foods, in partnership with Niceplanet Geotecnologia, launched the SMGeo Prospec application, which provides in-depth research, access to historical data, and socio-environmental compliance analysis, enabling ranchers to map risks prior to commercialization. Access to this tool is available to rural producers throughout Brazil, enabling them to verify the compliance of their own supply chain.

Why is it important to ensure livestock traceability?

Cattle traceability addresses issues such as human rights, deforestation, and greenhouse gas emissions, all of which are criteria used to meet trade requirements in demanding markets such as the United States and Europe. By monitoring all cattle purchases, the company can ensure that no animal purchased originates from areas identified as having been illegally deforested, subject to environmental embargoes, overlapping with indigenous lands and/or traditional communities and protected areas, or involved in the use of labor analogous to slavery.

It is also important to recognize that the largest volume of greenhouse gas emissions in the livestock production chain is due to deforestation as well as methane gas associated with animal enteric fermentation. For this reason, ensuring traceability is one of our main efforts to achieve the goal of zero net emissions by 2035. This will contribute to the conservation of ecosystems, achieve industry goals, and contribute to the sustainable enhancement of agricultural activity.