Another Major Company Drops Cargill over Deforestation Concerns

IntraFish reports that “Global salmon giant Grieg Seafood has excluded Cargill Aqua Nutrition from the proceeds of its $92 million green bond until its parent company Cargill has significantly reduced its soy-related deforestation risk in Brazil.” In response to the news, Mighty Earth CEO Glenn Hurowitz released the following statement:

“Cargill’s recklessness has destroyed forests, fueled climate change, displaced Indigenous communities, and imperiled workers from vulnerable communities in its meat plants. But today, a new victim of Cargill’s recklessness has emerged — Cargill itself.

“Norwegian salmon company Grieg Seafood has announced that it will exclude Cargill from its $92 million green bond, citing concerns about Cargill’s ties to deforestation in Brazil. This news is just the latest blow to Cargill’s bottom line, as a growing number of consumer-facing companies are unwilling to associate their hard-earned brands with Cargill’s sullied reputation. Late last year, Nestlé announced it would cease purchases of Cargill’s Brazilian soybeans over fears they were being grown on deforested land.

“Cargill has responded with the usual vague statements and commitments that never seem to find their way beyond a piece of paper. Major supermarket chains like Costco and Casino should take notice: Cargill hasn’t changed, and doing business with deforesters is a liability that your customers will no longer accept.”