Seven policy principles to prevent deforestation in the food supply chain

Commercial agriculture is a major driver of forest loss around the world. Such deforestation linked to global food supply chains, and its impact on environmental change, have been a source of concern for decades. Although the rate of deforestation has slowed in recent years, the world continues to lose around five million hectares of forest every year.

Commercial agriculture — particularly the production of palm oil, soybeans, beef cattle, and cocoa — accounts for 60 percent of tropical deforestation. The major actors in the agri-food industry have responded to global outrage by implementing zero-deforestation commitments (ZDCs): promises to eliminate deforestation from their supply chains.

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Article published in Esade Do Better