Brazil Amazon: Cattle King’s Conservation Plan
- Brazil is taking steps to address Amazon deforestation by implementing a cattle tracking program in the state of Pará.
- The program involves tagging cattle with chips, allowing authorities to track thier movements and ensure they are not grazing on illegally deforested land.
- renan Araujo, a senior market analyst at S&P Global, noted that improving traceability is crucial for Brazil to access high-demand markets like Japan and South korea. Pará, with...
Brazil is actively tackling Amazon deforestation with a bold cattle-tracking initiative, striving to improve traceability and open doors to global markets. Spearheaded in the state of Pará, the program, with support from figures like “King of Cattle” Quagliato Roque, seeks to tag millions of cattle by 2027. This innovative approach aims to counter illegal deforestation, a critical step towards enhancing BrazilS reputation as a responsible beef exporter. News Directory 3 reports that while implementing the program faces hurdles, including rancher resistance and technical snags, its prosperous deployment could revolutionize the beef industry. Discover what’s next as this strategy unfolds and reshapes the landscape of environmental conservation.
Brazil Aims to Curb Amazon Deforestation with Cattle Tracking Program
Updated June 09, 2025
Brazil is taking steps to address Amazon deforestation by implementing a cattle tracking program in the state of Pará. The initiative aims to improve traceability in the beef supply chain and open access to more demanding international markets. Quagliato Roque, known as Brazil’s “King of Cattle,” is among the ranchers supporting the effort, despite past controversies involving his family’s farms.
The program involves tagging cattle with chips, allowing authorities to track thier movements and ensure they are not grazing on illegally deforested land. This move comes as Brazil seeks to enhance its reputation as a responsible beef exporter and meet the standards of countries in the United States,Europe,and asia.
renan Araujo, a senior market analyst at S&P Global, noted that improving traceability is crucial for Brazil to access high-demand markets like Japan and South korea. Pará, with a herd of 26 million cattle, aims to tag all its cattle by 2027, setting a precedent for a broader policy shift.
While the law mandating cattle identification by the end of 2026 was passed in late 2023, only about 12,000 cattle had been tagged by May. However, the support from major ranchers like Quagliato has eased concerns about widespread rejection of the policy, according to Andy Jarvis of the Bezos Earth fund, which has contributed $16.3 million to the project.
Environmentalists believe that enhanced cattle traceability will provide law enforcement with a valuable tool to combat ranching on illegally deforested land. Even though not a complete solution, it represents a significant step forward.
Despite the potential benefits, many ranchers are resisting the program, fearing it will negatively impact their businesses. Some also doubt the government’s ability to meet its goals. Technical glitches in the cattle registration system have also been reported.
“There is a cost,” Quagliato said. But when ranchers sit down to talk about it, he added, they simply conclude that “we have to do it.”
The Quagliato family’s past environmental infractions remain a point of contention. While Quagliato has reportedly paid most of his deforestation fines,one case involving forest regeneration is still being settled. Additionally, a family member was recently convicted of labor violations, though the case is under appeal.
What’s next
The success of Brazil’s cattle tracking program hinges on overcoming rancher resistance and addressing technical challenges. If implemented effectively, it could transform the country’s beef industry, reduce Amazon deforestation, and open new opportunities in global markets.