Taking the bull by the horns – time for urgent action to transform the global food economy Rapid and systemic transformation of the
attempt to protect forests through new
industrial meat economy will be critical to
supply chain laws and also undermines
addressing the triple emergency of climate
attempts to decrease Europe’s external
change, biodiversity loss and vulnerability to novel
forest footprint through positive initiatives to
diseases. Governments and the private sector
decrease meat production and consumption.
alike need to recognise their role in creating these crises and assume their responsibility
•
Transform the food system: Introduce
for tackling them. Radical action is needed
legislation and prioritise policy to decrease
from supermarkets, fast food companies and
production and consumption of meat and
governments to ensure that policy, trade and
dairy products in countries with high levels
finance drive – rather than undermine – the
of consumption and support a fundamental
urgently needed shift to resilient food economies
switch towards ecological farming and healthy
that permit the restoration and regeneration
plant-rich diets.
of natural ecosystems, ensure the preservation of biodiversity, rein in greenhouse gas (GHG)
Food companies must:
emissions and uphold the rights of communities and workers.
•
Drop Amazon destroyers: End trade with groups
Governments must:
such as JBS that trade with suppliers that are linked
•
Align the economy with biodiversity and
this includes ending trade with subsidiaries such
climate protection, along with social justice:
as JBS-owned Moy Park and Tulip regardless of
Ensure that public finance, trade policy and
whether their supply chains link to the Amazon.
to deforestation and human rights violations –
overseas cooperation do not drive further deforestation, but do support nature restoration
•
Drastically reduce their trade in meat:
and a transition to a green, just and resilient
Immediately begin the phase-out of all trade in
economy. This includes:
industrial meat, with the aim of reducing overall
• Closing the market to products linked to
meat and dairy production and sales by at least
deforestation, ecosystem destruction and
50% by 2025 and 70% by 2030 in countries with
abuses of human rights, in particular the rights
high levels of meat consumption.
of Indigenous Peoples, by introducing and enforcing legislation to stop such products
•
Defend Indigenous rights: Support Indigenous
being sold and to prohibit financiers from
Peoples in securing recognition and protection of
contributing directly or indirectly, through
their lands and customary rights.
their investments or the financial support they provide, to deforestation, ecosystem
•
Stand for transparency: Honour zero-
destruction and/or abuses of human rights, in
deforestation commitments and make full
particular of Indigenous Peoples.
supply chain transparency a condition of trade
• In the case of EU governments, refusing to
with suppliers, requiring them to have open and
ratify the EU–Mercosur agreement. The
comprehensive monitoring systems in place by no
agreement threatens to undermine any
later than 1 January 2021.
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