Marfrig Group protects the Brazilian Rainforest
THE Marfrig Group, who owns leading poultry producer Moy Park, has become the world’s first food company in the animal protein segment to achieve certification from the Rainforest Alliance for its efforts in protecting the Brazilian rainforest.
It tracked its entire beef production cycle in accordance with the standards developed by the Agriculture and Forest Management and Certification Institute (Imaflora) and the Rainforest Alliance, a U.S.-based organization created 25 years ago that was one of the first to create forest-protection protocols.
As of this month, the Tangará da Serra Unit in Brazil is authorized to produce and market its products internationally bearing this “green cattle raising seal”. Tangará da Serra is the only meat processing unit in the world to meet the 136 social and environmental criteria, which range from reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the implementation of animal welfare practices to the social conditions of employees and their families.
The requirements for this certification were established by the Sustainable Agriculture Network (RAS), an international entity composed of independent conservationist organizations that holds the certification standards that allow companies in the region to use the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal. The audit was conducted by the Imaflora, which is officially accredited to grant the Rainforest Alliance Certification in Brazil.
“This is a new and global pioneering initiative by Marfrig Beef that raises the bar in the way of thinking and conducting sustainable agribusiness,” said James Cruden, CEO of Marfrig Beef.
“The Company was also the first to implement a broad Integrated Management System, which includes certification by the standards ISO 14001 (Environmental), ISO 22000 (Food Safety), OHSAS 18001 (Health and Safety) and SA 8000 (Social Responsibility). The Rainforest Alliance certification now opens important new doors for marketing our products in the food market with “green seal” products,” said Cruden.
“We believe this certification marks an important initial step that attests to Marfrig’s commitment and courage to transform cattle raising in Brazil and the world and also elevates the level of sustainability practices for all the players in the chain,” concluded Maurício Voivodic, executive secretary of Imaflora.
At the beginning of this year, the Fazenda São Marcelo, a farm also located in Tangará da Serra, was the first production property focused on the full cattle cycle to receive the RAC seal and will be now the initial supplier of the first cattle for Marfrig.
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