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18 November 2026, Berlin

Land grabbing and the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act: A look at the soy supply chain of Big Meat and the Brazilian Cerrado

Berlin
18 November 2026, 5:00 pm
Bundesgeschäftsstelle Deutsche Umwelthilfe
Hackescher Markt 4, 10178 Berlin

Panel discussion with: Svane Bender (Head of the Nature Conservation Department, DUH) and representatives from ECCHR, ISPN, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the People’s Tribunals Initiative in Brazil

Industrial meat production in Germany and Europe is characterised not only by factory farming, a massive
carbon footprint and, in some cases, exploitative working conditions. The soy supply chain of major
German meat companies is also linked to human rights violations and environmental damage. The soy fed
to livestock in European fattening farms usually originates from countries outside the EU, including Brazil.
There, alongside the pervasive deforestation caused by the Brazilian agricultural industry, so-called ‘green
land grabbing’ is also a major problem.
In the case of green land grabbing, Brazilian agricultural giants designate their legally required
environmental compensation areas on the territories of indigenous, traditional and Quilombola
communities. The Cerrado biome, which interdependence enables the existence itself of the Amazon
rainforest are thus coming under pressure from soya expansion, which systematically impacts self-
determination and territorial rights , and ecosystemic interdependence of rainforests and its waterways.
Numerous analyses of the feed industry’s supply chains indicate that some players in the meat processing
sector are failing to adequately fulfil their due diligence obligations regarding avoiding such risks.

In our panel discussion, we aim to explore, together with experts, how large German meat companies
must address the above-mentioned risks in light of the current (LkSG) and future (CSDDD, EUDR) legal
frameworks, where the shortcomings lie in the implementation of legal obligations in Germany, and what
needs to be done to strengthen land justice in Brazil and due diligence measures in Germany – particularly
in the face of the growing Brazilian right-wing movement – and to bolster the soy supply chains extending
to Europe.


Agenda

  • 17:00-17:10: Welcome address (Svane Bender, Head of the Nature Conservation Department at
    the DUH) and introduction of the panel)
  • 17:10–18:00: Panel discussion with representatives from DUH, ECCHR, ISPN, the Federal Ministry
    for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the People’s Tribunals Initiative in Brazil
  • 18:00–18:25: Q&A and Exchange
  • 18:20–18:30: Closing remarks (Svane Bender)
  • 18:30–19:00: Evening reception with drinks and canapés

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