“To bring the voices of Global South people into the decision-making”

Money talks

Did you know that Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of soy? And that most of these shipments head to the Netherlands? The situation is similar with beef—here too, the Netherlands is the biggest importer.

While large-scale producers and traders happily pocket the profits, Brazil—especially the Amazon and Cerrado regions—struggles with severe land conflicts, pollution, and the destruction of wildlife and soils.

Will trade rules address the problem?

The EU’s deforestation regulation (EUDR) was designed to exclude products linked to deforestation from EU trade. Still, policymakers cannot be fully satisfied with the results. The latest study, published by researchers at Radboud University within the PLANET4B project, investigates what further measures are needed to ensure stronger guarantees for environmental and social justice.

The analysis, which involved numerous stakeholders including NGOs, companies, government experts, and academics, examines the producer, trade, and user structures and points out the necessary changes needed for industry reform.

In a groundbreaking approach, the research included not only the environmental impacts of soybean and beef exports but also the social conflicts and inequalities, as well as the perspectives of Indigenous peoples and local communities living in the Amazon and Cerrado regions. Only this complex approach can lead to the preservation of biodiversity and local values.

Read the study at the International Journal of the Commons.

And if you want to see inspiring and courageous people, look at how Brazilian indigenous people are defending their rights.