Farmers Federation denies claims beef farming causes deforestation in Australia

Cattle farmers say deforestation claims are 'misinformation' (SBS).jpg

Cattle farmers say deforestation claims are 'misinformation' Source: SBS News

Australia's supermarket giants are facing pressure to stop selling beef linked to deforestation over concerns from environmental groups. The main organisation representing farmers has labelled that a campaign of fear and misinformation.


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The Australian Conservation Foundation says it has identified 50 Australian beef properties that have undergone significant deforestation over a four-year period.

Corporate campaign manager Bonnie Graham says approximately 16,000 hectares of forest have been bulldozed across New South Wales and Queensland.

"These are all properties that are linked to domestic beef supply and they're also properties that are likely to have or are known to have threatened species habitat on them." 

The national Farmers' Federation says the images lack context, asking whether they show responsible weed and regrowth management instead.

And Cattle Australia's chief executive officer Dr Chris Parker has told the ABC, Australia doesn't have a deforestation issue.

"There are those who maintain we do, and often their business model relies on outrage. And for outrage you need an enemy. We are talking about very, very small amounts of native forest clearing"  

Dr Parker also told the ABC beef producers want a clearer definition.

"What is deforestation? I think that's still a point that needs to be clarified."  

Greenpeace's 2024 Deforestation Scorecard report highlights raising beef cattle as a leading reason for deforestation in Australia.

And is the only developed country on the World Wildlife Foundation's deforestation hotspot list.

The Australian Conservation Foundation's Bonnie Graham is calling on the major supermarkets to remove deforestation products from their shelves.

"If our big supermarkets and other players don't enact policies and targets to address deforestation, Australia is going to be cut out of exporting to markets like the EU who have put in place strong laws to eliminate deforestation from their supply chains.]   

Data from Australian Competition and Consumer Commission shows Coles and Woolworths are the biggest suppliers of beef to Australian consumers.

Rival ALDI has set a target to eliminate deforestation from its supply chains.

Woolworths has a net zero target, allowing deforestation if it's offset by growing trees, telling SBS News in a statement:

"...the majority of Australian producers practice responsible land management, and we believe a clear deforestation definition will help better promote the sustainability credentials of Australian red meat."

Coles doesn't have a target, but says it's developing a road map, telling SBS News:

“We are committed to protecting Australian nature and are engaging with a range of NGO’s including Australian Conservation Foundation, Greenpeace and the Wilderness Society on a broad range of nature-related issues."

The Conservation foundation is pushing for firmer targets by the end of 2025.

The Farmers' Federation told SBS News in a statement, there are rigorous state and territory regulations around land clearing and farmers are working closely with the Government on environmental reform and has developed an industry framework to demonstrate sustainable agricultural practices.


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