WITH the cattle industry’s peak body this week drawing a line in the sand on what it classes as deforestation, it is worth taking a look at what it might mean for the supply chains demanding “deforestation free” beef.

Cattle Australia has been developing the Land Management Commitment (LMC) since the start of this year, with the European Union set to ban the import of goods linked to deforestation at the end of December and supermarkets, banks and other supply chains closely following.

Among the stakeholders negotiating the new requirements, there is a clear sense the deforestation goals are actually targeted at virgin rainforests in areas like the Amazon. Several people have told Beef Central that they feel like the environmental groups have taken the opportunity to push the same agendas they have been pushing in Australia for decades.

The situation has put pressure on the industry to communicate the value of managing vegetation for both the environment and production to its supply chains. The supply chains are trying to eliminate the risk of being associated with deforestation.

Between a draft of the LMC in July and the final document released this week, it appears the Cattle Australia has come full circle in the way it plans to negotiate the deforestation targets.

The first draft included a series of case studies demonstrating land management in Australia and a distinction between regrowth and regenerated forest.

The final draft points the supply chains to Australia’s extensive regulatory system and the hundreds of laws that are already in place to legislate land clearing. It also pointed to international definitions of deforestation making clear exemptions for agricultural land.

Will Europe put faith in Australian laws?

With Europe being the first cab off the rank trying to implement the deforestation-related regulations, it is being looked to as a pilot for the other supply chains to follow.

It must be said the European Union is already under pressure from within the continent to delay the incoming import rules due to concerns they will drive up cost of production in local industries and that many of the countries are not ready to monitor compliance.

Cattle Australia was in Canberra last week meeting with both sides of parliament trying to gain support for the industry. The Nationals have been a vocal supporter, welcoming the release of the LMC this week.

Labor has called on the EU to delay the incoming legislation, raising concerns about the impact it will have on the industry.

Beef Central asked trade minister Don Farrell and agriculture minister Julie Collins if they will be taking the LMC to the EU. Minister Collins referred us to comments made in Parliament last week.

“We have strong environmental laws in Australia, we have great public health and food safety laws, and of course we have terrific biosecurity, so I do not want to see any Australian products impeded because of that,” the minister said.

Cattle Australia has also been calling on the Government to make sure Europe’s import rules are in compliance with World Trade Organisation rules. Beef Central asked the minister if he thought they were.

This article will be updated with a response.

Supermarkets reviewing the LMC

Woolworths recently became the first of the two big supermarkets to commit to “deforestation-free” beef, with its target to come into play next year.

Coles is likely to follow as, like Woolworths, it is signed up to an organisation called the Science Based Targets initiative, which is making “deforestation-free” pledges a condition of membership.

Beef Central asked both organisations if the Cattle Australia document has given them the assurances they need to ensure they need.

Without committing, Woolworths has indicated that it supports the approach Cattle Australia is taking. A spokesperson for Woolworths said the company was reviewing the LMC.

“We support the development of a localised deforestation definition which recognises Australia’s unique landscape and vegetation, while ensuring responsible land management,” the spokesperson said.

“We will continue to engage across the industry on this important topic.”

A Coles spokesperson struck a similar tone.

“We recognise the complexity of addressing the nature challenge and are committed to working with our farmers, suppliers and industry partners to reduce our impact on the environment and help our customers to make more responsible choices.

“We source our beef from across multiple cattle producing regions of Australia and recognise that our producers are responsible stewards of the land.

“We continue to develop a beef roadmap to prevent deforestation in our direct supply chain and govern our beef sourcing processes. We will also continue to collaborate with Australian industry frameworks such as the Australian Beef Sustainability Framework and beef suppliers to preserve the environment and maintain productive landscapes.”

Debate over ag land exemptions

Environmental organisations have largely been behind the supply chains setting the targets in the first place and are clearly going to continue pressuring them to legislate the targets their way.

The Australian Conservation Foundation, Greenpeace and the Wilderness Society have all been critical of Cattle Australia since it started the process. They have been trying to influence the deforestation targets with their own “policy guidance”, which includes the protection of all regrowth 15-years or older.

The World Wide Fund for Nature, formerly World Wildlife Fund, is in a different boat. It is one of the founding organisations of the SBTi and is on the steering group of one of the main international frameworks legislating the deforestation targets called the Accountability Framework initiative (Afi).

While it was involved in Cattle Australia’s early work, it has been critical of it since it released the draft in July.

In response to this week’s release, WWF sustainable beef program manager Vanessa Keogh said the AFi did not make agricultural land exempt from the deforestation targets.

“The guidance from AFi states that forest areas cannot be excluded based on agricultural use, yet CA claims that they can,” she said.

“There is now a risk that Australian beef producers will undertake actions based on the CA policy and find themselves excluded from the growing market for deforestation-free beef.”

Cattle Australia chief executive officer Chris Parker said it clearly makes existing agricultural exempt from the regulation.

“The comments of WWF are disingenuous and overly defensive of their position – one they have a financial interest in promoting,” Dr Parker said.

“Australian beef producers have been managing their land for generations, producing healthy beef from healthy land. Invasive plants, pests and diseases are now the number one contributor to biodiversity loss in Australia, which producers spend $5.3 billion annually managing.

“I simply ask who is going to manage these ecosystems if you lock them up?”