Cattle linked to

deforested land

Non-compliant ranch

Cattle linked to

deforested land

Breeding and raising ▲

Calves remain on their birth ranch for nine months until weaned. Risks such as miscarriage and predation, mean this early stage carries the most economic uncertainty for farmers, who often have lower levels of environmental compliance

Laundering ▲

Cattle are transferred from an environmentally-embargoed ranch to a compliant one, so that from this point on, the animals do not appear to be linked to deforestation, and can be sold in international markets at a higher price

Fattening ▲

Cattle are moved to farms that specialise in weight gain. Owners at this “finishing stage” are direct suppliers to abattoirs so they are more likely to be monitored and compliant. Those that aren’t can supply markets with fewer regulations, such as China

Meatpacking ▲

The cattle are slaughtered, and their meat is processed and packaged. A few giant firms, led by JBS, Marfrig, and Minerva, dominate the lucrative meatpacking stage. JBS, the largest, sells meat under various brands worldwide, further obscuring its origins

Supermarkets and dinner tables ▲

Many retailers are committed to zero-deforestation, but this will not be possible until they oblige providers, such as JBS, to fully monitor direct and indirect suppliers so consumers can be sure that no stage of the process is responsible for Amazon destruction

Environmentally

compliant ranch

Non-compliant ranch

Breeding and raising ▶

Calves remain on their birth ranch for nine months until weaned. Risks such as miscarriage and predation, mean this early stage carries the most economic uncertainty for farmers, who often have lower levels of environmental compliance

Cattle linked to

deforested land

◀ Laundering

Cattle are transferred from an environmentally-embargoed ranch to a compliant one, so that from this point on, the animals do not appear to be linked to deforestation, and can be sold in international markets at a higher price

Fattening ▶

Cattle are moved to farms that specialise in weight gain. Owners at this “finishing stage” are direct suppliers to abattoirs so they are more likely to be monitored and compliant. Those that aren’t can supply markets with fewer regulations, such as China

Abattoir

◀ Meatpacking

The cattle are slaughtered, and their meat is processed and packaged. A few giant firms, led by JBS, Marfrig, and Minerva, dominate the lucrative meatpacking stage. JBS, the largest, sells meat under various brands worldwide, further obscuring its origins

Supermarkets and dinner tables ▶

Many retailers are committed to zero-deforestation, but this will not be possible until they oblige providers, such as JBS, to fully monitor direct and indirect suppliers so consumers can be sure that no stage of the process is responsible for Amazon destruction

Environmentally

compliant ranch

Breeding and raising ▶

Calves remain on their birth ranch for nine months until weaned. Risks such as miscarriage and predation, mean this early stage carries the most economic uncertainty for farmers, who often have lower levels of environmental compliance

Non-compliant

ranch

Cattle linked to

deforested land

◀ Laundering

Cattle are transferred from an environmentally-embargoed ranch to a compliant one, so that from this point on, the animals do not appear to be linked to deforestation, and can be sold in international markets at a higher price

Fattening ▶

Cattle are moved to farms that specialise in weight gain. Owners at this “finishing stage” are direct suppliers to abattoirs so they are more likely to be monitored and compliant. Those that aren’t can supply markets with fewer regulations, such as China

Abattoir

◀ Meatpacking

The cattle are slaughtered, and their meat is processed and packaged. A few giant firms, led by JBS, Marfrig, and Minerva, dominate the lucrative meatpacking stage. JBS, the largest, sells meat under various brands worldwide, further obscuring its origins

Supermarkets and dinner table ▶s

Many retailers are committed to zero-deforestation, but this will not be possible until they oblige providers, such as JBS, to fully monitor direct and indirect suppliers so consumers can be sure that no stage of the process is responsible for Amazon destruction

Breeding and raising ▶

Calves remain on their birth ranch for nine months until weaned. Risks such as miscarriage and predation, mean this early stage carries the most economic uncertainty for farmers, who often have lower levels of environmental compliance

◀ Laundering

Cattle are transferred from an environmentally-embargoed ranch to a compliant one, so that from this point on, the animals do not appear to be linked to deforestation, and can be sold in international markets at a higher price

Fattening ▶

Cattle are moved to farms that specialise in weight gain. Owners at this “finishing stage” are direct suppliers to abattoirs so they are more likely to be monitored and compliant. Those that aren’t can supply markets with fewer regulations, such as China

◀ Meatpacking

The cattle are slaughtered, and their meat is processed and packaged. A few giant firms, led by JBS, Marfrig, and Minerva, dominate the lucrative meatpacking stage. JBS, the largest, sells meat under various brands worldwide, further obscuring its origins

Supermarkets and dinner tables ▼

Many retailers are committed to zero-deforestation, but this will not be possible until they oblige providers, such as JBS, to fully monitor direct and indirect suppliers so consumers can be sure that no stage of the process is responsible for Amazon destruction

Non-compliant ranch

Cattle linked to

deforested land