Our World in Data · Mens en maatschappij

Beef Production is the Primary Driver of Global Deforestation

Since 2000, an area of forest five times the size of the United Kingdom has been cleared for farming, with beef production being the largest contributor to global deforestation.

Beef production accounts for 41% of global deforestation, primarily in Brazil, where it is responsible for one-quarter of the world's forest clearing. This expansion of cattle pastures has significantly impacted biodiverse regions like the Amazon rainforest and Cerrado savanna.

Contrary to what one might assume, most of the beef produced in Brazil is consumed domestically, with per-person demand doubling over the past 50 years to three times the European average.

Data from 2005 to 2023 indicates that around 85% of deforestation in Brazil is driven by domestic demand, while only 15% is exported. Major importers of Brazilian beef include China and the United States, but no single country dominates this export market.

AI-samenvatting op basis van de bron.