Brazil Soy Industry’s Moratorium Exit Risks Unchecked Amazon Deforestation

For nearly 20 years, Brazil’s largest soy producers maintained a crucial promise: their massive harvest—the world’s largest—is not grown on newly deforested Amazon land. This voluntary commitment, the soy moratorium, helped curb rainforest loss and positioned Brazil as a leader in sustainable production. But this week, that pledge shattered as major soy traders withdrew from the agreement.Is Brazil Sacrificing National Sovereignty for Corporate Gain?The Brazilian Association of Vegetable Oil Industries (ABIOVE), representing giants like Cargill and Bunge, announced its exit from the soy moratorium—a move signaling the pact’s effective end. Why now? The state of Mato Grosso, Brazil’s top soy-producing...