Booker Presses Cargill on Deforestation Commitments

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 and below.

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Brian Sikes
President and CEO
Cargill, Inc.
15407 McGinty Road West Wayzata, MN 55391

Dear Mr. Sikes:

Congratulations on your appointment as the President and CEO of Cargill. I hope that in your new role, you will ensure Cargill is a leader in taking much-needed action for conservation and addressing climate change wherever Cargill operates.

One area where your global stewardship is urgently needed is the protection of forests and other ecosystems. 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. I respectfully request that you provide some important clarifications on this announcement:

1. Savannas, prairies, and other non-forest ecosystems have been among the most impacted by Cargill’s operations. Do Cargill’s new commitments extend to protection of non-forest ecosystems?
2. Do Cargill’s commitments apply to its indirect suppliers?
3. Bolivia holds outsized importance to global climate resilience and biodiversity, but despite its relatively small size, Bolivia had the third largest amount of deforestation in the world in 2021.¹ Given that Cargill’s operations have previously been linked to deforestation in Bolivia, why is Bolivia excluded from Cargill’s new announcement? ²
4. Why does Cargill buy soy from such a high percentage of suppliers in Bolivia3 who are not free of deforestation and conversion, especially in the context of Bolivia’s record- setting deforestation in recent years?
5. 5I 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. Will Cargill immediately discontinue purchases from suppliers who are found to engage in deforestation or conversion of native ecosystems? Or will Cargill wait until January 1, 2025, to begin implementation of its commitments?
6. How does Cargill monitor its direct and indirect suppliers to the farm level across Latin America?
7. What due diligence is Cargill undertaking now to ensure that existing suppliers do not engage in destruction of forests or other ecosystems? Does Cargill rely exclusively on deforestation or ecosystem destruction alerts received from independent organizations, or does it conduct its own monitoring?
8. Will Cargill stop buying soy animal feed and other agricultural goods from suppliers who engaged in deforestation after 2020? This would be in line with supermarkets and NGOs, who have requested a 2020 cut-off date.

This is a moment of great opportunity for action to protect irreplaceable ecosystems and prevent the devastating consequences of climate change. I urge Cargill to be bold in its commitments to ensure our world’s natural resources do not continue to be destroyed.

I look forward to hearing your responses soon. Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.