Jack Hurd’s Post

Just announced 🚨 - Pará State Cattle Integrity & Development Program. Cattle ranching in Brazil 🇧🇷 has historically accounted for nearly 24% of global annual tropical deforestation. At New York Climate Week, Mr. Helder Barbalho, Governor of the Amazonian state of Pará, Brazil, shared the state's ambitions to see Pará reach 100% zero illegal deforestation. This program is a decisive milestone in realigning food systems in Brazil on the path to COP30 in Belém do Pará. Jack Hurd, Executive Director for Tropical Forest Alliance, said of the announcement: “The Para Cattle Integrity Program, announced at COP28 today, is a foundational layer for addressing the biggest driver of deforestation and emissions in Brazil. The absence of full traceability in Pará undermined their ability to attract legitimate investment into this sector. The scope of this program is notable, because we know traceability alone is not enough. By also addressing producer compliance, increasing productivity and improving pasture management, the program presents a comprehensive pathway to supporting a net-zero transition and ensuring more sustainable livelihoods. If they can get this right in Pará, it has the potential to influence other cattle producing states in Brazil.” #Para #Brazil #Deforestation #Cattle #COP28

We're excited to see our portfolio company, Atlantic Sea Farms, featured in The Wall Street Journal! CEO Briana Warner discusses the growing seaweed industry in the U.S. and its potential to transform coastal economies and ecosystems. As pioneers in domestic seaweed aquaculture, Atlantic Sea Farms is not only producing a nutritious, sustainable crop, but also creating new opportunities for fishermen affected by climate change. Some key highlights from the article: - The U.S. currently produces just 0.01% of the world's seaweed, with most imported from Asia - Expanding seaweed farming in the U.S. could provide economic benefits and support local fishing communities - Seaweed cultivation offers environmental advantages, including reducing ocean acidification and absorbing excess nutrients We're proud to support Atlantic Sea Farms in their mission to create a more sustainable and resilient food system while supporting coastal communities. This coverage in the WSJ underscores the growing recognition of #seaweed's potential in addressing both economic and environmental challenges. Read the full article here: https://on.wsj.com/4f7yrQj

🔎 A new investigation from Global Witness reveals the extent to which #deforestation in the Cerrado is illegal and being driven by cattle trade. "Global Witness estimate that between 2008 and 2019 an area of forest bigger than Chicago was felled within ranches supplying the three beef firms across Mato Grosso. And for those farms based in the Cerrado 42% had suffered deforestation. Deforestation is allowed under a state permit but Global Witness found permits covered only 1% of the land deforested, suggesting the majority was illegal." 💡 In November, new Trase data found that cattle pasture is expanding across the Cerrado and Amazon despite zero-deforestation commitments: https://lnkd.in/eg-aUUHw Read more about Global Witness' investigation in BBC News 👇

🌳🦋🐸🌍A milestone in the fight against deforestation: the 2024 Goldman prize goes to Marcel Gomes of Réporter Brazil, who tracked the meat industy and deforestation in the Amazon Brazil, from farm to table, including European tables😒. 65% of deforestation in Brazil is caused by cattle ranching. #stopdeforestation #sustainablesupplychains https://lnkd.in/d7WPVXMA

🌱 Brazil recently declared their committent to sustianable agriculture through the agroforestization of currently deforested areas. Brazilian family farming plays a pivotal role in feeding 70% of the population while using only 23% of arable land. Rebuilding sustainable farmlands is top of mind in regards to the deforested amazon and the surging Brazilian meat trade. 🌍Be a part of the global conversation: https://loom.ly/fJdD1hY #globalfoodtrade #jblglobaltrading

At Behn Meyer, we believe that sustainable aquaculture is key to protecting our oceans and combating climate change. Here’s how we are contributing to this vital cause: 🔹 Sustainable Feed Solutions: We develop eco-friendly, nutrient-rich feed that reduces the environmental impact of aquaculture, ensuring healthier oceans for future generations. 🔹 Innovative Additives: Our advanced nutritional additives enhance fish health and growth, minimising waste and improving the efficiency of aquaculture practices. 🔹 Supporting Climate Action: By promoting sustainable practices and reducing the carbon footprint of aquaculture, we are playing our part in the fight against climate change. Catalyse action and make a positive impact with Behn Meyer. Connect with our team at aquaculture@behnmeyer.com. #BehnMeyer #Ingredients #Aquaculture #FeedAdditives #MarineFish #WorldOceansDay

Can forests be more profitable than beef? The The New York Times article "Can Forests Be More Profitable Than Beef?" by Manuela Andreoni reveals a shift towards innovative #forest #restoration in the #Amazon, challenging traditional practices like cattle ranching that have long dominated local economies and driven #deforestation. This article underscores the potential of making forest preservation more economically viable through emerging carbon credit markets. At the Global Partnership on Drug Policies and Development (GPDPD), we recognize a similar pattern in the dynamics of illicit drug economies, specifically #CocaCultivation. While direct deforestation from coca cultivation is minimal, its indirect effects, often termed "narco-deforestation," significantly contribute to environmental degradation. This process involves laundering #DrugTrafficking profits through land speculation and expanding agricultural sectors, including cattle ranching, which poses a substantial threat to biodiversity. This intersection of environmental impact from both traditional and #IllicitEconomies highlights the urgent need for integrated solutions that address economic development and environmental conservation. By advocating for policies that promote sustainable land use and alternative livelihoods, we aim to mitigate the effects of #narco-deforestation and transform economic incentives that currently favor environmental depletion. The lessons from the Amazon's forest restoration efforts can inspire similar transformations in regions affected by narco-deforestation, demonstrating that sustainable practices can replace destructive ones, benefiting both our planet and its people. 👉 👉 👉 https://lnkd.in/esRPDQJA. #Sustainability #DrugPolicy #Environment #EconomicDevelopment #ClimateAction #NewYorkTimes

https://lnkd.in/dmS5EiS8 As we utilize living marine resources in EU waters for income, food provisioning, and social benefits, we must also consider their long-term sustainability and resilience. Overexploitation poses significant risks, which is why we propose a range of actionable recommendations that span both short- and long-term actions. Notably, it is crucial to prioritize existing alternatives to damaging fishing and farming techniques to preserve our marine resources. By ensuring abundant, sustainable stocks, balancing fleet size with available resources, protecting supportive marine habitats and reduce externalities, we can secure the long-term sustainability of our marine resources. Such actions include gatekeepers addressing the cost of transitioning to responsible, sustainable fishing and farming practices as a barrier to overcome. Let us all work together to preserve and protect our fisheries and the productivity of our oceans for generations to come. This review paper was written with Lara Salvany, Anne Marie Cooper, and Natacha Carvalho

#BREAKING: Today, beef industry group, Cattle Australia, has released its Land Management Commitment Information Paper for consultation. The paper proposes various options for an industry-wide response to increasing demand for deforestation-free products. Unfortunately, the proposals create exemptions for agriculture that leave a bulldozer-sized door open for the destruction of threatened species habitat. For example, the paper advocates for regenerated forest up to 34 years old to be excluded from the definition of deforestation. It also attempts to make use of ‘agricultural land use’ loopholes—meaning more than 126 million hectares of forest (an area over twice the size of France) would be at risk of being bulldozed while still claiming to be deforestation-free. “Cattle Australia’s blatant attempt to create deforestation loopholes will not get the beef industry any closer to solving its deforestation problem," said Hannah Schuch, Queensland Campaigns Manager for the Wilderness Society. “Beef retailers–like Coles and Woolworths–have a social and financial responsibility to align their companies’ deforestation-free targets with international best practice and nothing less. They must not be fooled by Cattle Australia’s marketing exercise to continue bulldozing koala habitat.” Read the full media release: https://lnkd.in/gCRqixbf #deforestation #beefindustry #landclearing #koalas #australia #environment #conservation

Is the future of seafood in danger? Did you know that 20-30% of fish species are currently overfished, and wild fish stocks have been stagnating since the 1980s? As the world population grows, so does the demand for seafood. Innovation in aquaculture will be key to meeting rising demand while safeguarding the long-term health of our ocean ecosystems. Ruedi Ryf from Swiss Blue Salmon AG shared his thoughts on why farmed fish is the solution: “Aquaculture offers numerous advantages over traditional wild fish catches. From environmentally friendly land-based systems like RAS to steady production year-round, there's immense growth potential. By shifting focus to aquaculture, we can alleviate pressure on wild stocks and allow them to recover.“ In the coming decade we have the potential to transform aquaculture into a truly sustainable source of healthy seafood. Let's join forces to ensure a brighter, more sustainable future for seafood! #SustainableSeafood #Aquaculture #innovation #ecosystem #SDG #blueeconomy #ecosystem