Cargill: A Burning Legacy
We’re engaging the family owners of Cargill—the largest private company in America and the largest agribusiness company in the world—to eliminate human rights abuses and the destruction of nature from their supply chain. Although most people quite reasonably believe that the largest driver of deforestation is logging, according to a recent study published in the journal Science, more than 90% of tropical deforestation is driven by agriculture. It is estimated that ADM, Bunge, Cargill, and Louis Dreyfus control 70-90% of the global grain market. The annual revenue of Cargill, the largest privately held company in America, is nearly equal to the other three companies combined. Put simply, global deforestation is driven by agriculture and agriculture is driven by Cargill. The destruction of the natural world is tragically bound to the violation of human rights. Just last year, Cargill was once again found to be sourcing from farms in Brazil linked to land grabbing and violence against the Indigenous Peoples whose territorial forests were taken and cleared to make way for the farm. And child labor on cocoa plantations in West Africa continues to increase in countries where Cargill is a top exporter. Cargill has committed time and again to ending these practices. But as our report “A Grain of Truth” clearly demonstrated, and as Cargill itself admits, those commitments have not been kept. It’s time to keep Cargill to its word. We’re asking each member of the Cargill-Macmillan family to stand with us. Help us ensure they’re remembered as the family that made the world a better place, not a worse one.
The Unveiled Truth:
While many may associate deforestation primarily with logging, a recent study published in the journal Science has unveiled a startling reality. More than 90% of tropical deforestation is driven by agriculture, not logging. Among the giants of agribusiness—ADM, Bunge, Cargill, and Louis Dreyfus—Cargill stands at the forefront, controlling a significant portion of the global grain market. Cargill's annual revenue, as the largest privately held company in America, is nearly equal to the combined revenues of the other three giants.
In simple terms, global deforestation is intrinsically linked to agriculture, and agriculture is driven by Cargill.
The Nexus of Destruction and Injustice:
The tragic destruction of our natural world is deeply intertwined with the violation of human rights. Disturbingly, Cargill has repeatedly been linked to such transgressions. Just last year, Cargill was implicated in sourcing from farms in Brazil associated with land grabbing and violence against Indigenous Peoples. Their ancestral forests were ruthlessly cleared to make way for these farms. Furthermore, the prevalence of child labor on cocoa plantations in West Africa is on the rise in countries where Cargill is a prominent exporter.
Cargill has made commitments time and again to end these practices. However, our report, "A Grain of Truth," starkly demonstrates that these commitments have not been honored. It is now imperative to hold Cargill accountable for its words and promises.
We extend an urgent call to every member of the Cargill-Macmillan family to stand with us. Together, we have the power to ensure that your legacy is one that has made the world a better place, not one that has exacerbated its problems. Help us steer Cargill towards a more responsible and sustainable future.
- Eliminating Human Rights Abuses: We demand that Cargill take immediate, concrete steps to eradicate human rights abuses within its supply chain. This includes ending associations with farms linked to land grabbing and violence against Indigenous Peoples.
- Halting Environmental Destruction: It is imperative that Cargill takes decisive action to stop contributing to deforestation and environmental degradation. The preservation of our natural world depends on it.
- Accountability and Transparency: We call upon Cargill to uphold its commitments with transparency and accountability. Empty promises can no longer be tolerated.
Join Us in Shaping a Brighter Future:
Cargill - A Burning Legacy is a rallying cry to all who care about the planet, human rights, and ethical business practices. Stand with us as we work towards a world where industry leaders like Cargill not only promise change but deliver it. Together, we can ensure that the Cargill-Macmillan family is remembered as a force for good, a family that left a lasting legacy of positive change in our world.
Together, we can extinguish the burning legacy and kindle a brighter future.
#CargillBurningLegacy #EndDeforestation #HumanRightsMatter
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