Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) urged Cargill, Inc. to be a global leader in addressing deforestation and climate change in its operations.
“One area where your global stewardship is urgently needed is the protection of forests and other ecosystems,” wrote Senator Booker in a letter to Cargill, Inc. President and CEO Brian Sikes.
Last year, Cargill announced that it will end deforestation in its soy supply chain in certain South American biomes. “I applaud Cargill’s November 2022 announcement in the Agriculture Sector Roadmap to 1.5°C that it will eliminate soy-related deforestation in the Amazon, Cerrado, and Chaco by 2025,” Senator Booker continued.
Senator Booker asked Cargill to clarify several pieces of its recent announcement. “Savannas, prairies, and other non-forest ecosystems have been among the most impacted by Cargill’s operations,” wrote Senator Booker. “Do Cargill’s new commitments extend to protection of non-forest ecosystems?”
Senator Booker also inquired about why the recent announcement excluded Bolivia, a country with an alarmingly high deforestation rate, writing, “Given that Cargill’s operations have previously been linked to deforestation in Bolivia, why is Bolivia excluded from Cargill’s new announcement?”
Senator Booker also asked whether Cargill’s recent commitments applied to indirect suppliers, how it tracks deforestation in its supply chain, and whether it plans to start implementation of its commitments right away. “I am concerned that delays in implementation of Cargill’s commitments will lead to a ‘race to deforest’ before the 2025 deadline, a phenomenon which may already be occurring,” wrote Senator Booker. “Will Cargill immediately discontinue purchases from suppliers who are found to engage in deforestation or conversion of native ecosystems?”
“I urge Cargill to be bold in its commitments to ensure our world’s natural resources do not continue to be destroyed,” Senator Booker concluded.
The full text of the letter can be found here.