Rainforest Slaughterhouses Pay for Environmental Damage, Judge Rules

In Brazil, a judge ordered two slaughter housing companies, Distriboi and Frigon, to pay millions in compensation for damage caused to the environment.

In the state of Rodonia, these two beef slaughterhouses implemented deforestation efforts to expand opportunities for cattle raising, especially in areas protected under Brazilian law as natural territory, not land owned and modified by humans.

Additionally, the ruling opened the door for further charged to be made on other meat companies in similar fashion, most importantly JBS SA, which is one of the largest meat producers in the world. The ruling, if it succeed, would result in up to billions of dollars in damages being made. These slaughterhouses have recently crippled over 80% of the Amazon rainforest in the Jaci-Parana region, which is home to thousands of wildlife species and billions of trees. Over 210,000 cattle have been raised in the process.

“When a slaughterhouse, whether by negligence or intent, buys and resells products from invaded and illegally deforested reserves, it is clear that it is directly benefiting from these illegal activities. In such cases, there is an undeniable connection between the company’s actions and the environmental damage caused by the illegal exploitation," said Judge Inês Moreira da Costa, defending her reasoning for the court ruling.

JBS SA's stock price has not tumbled just yet, but with this ruling being announced after market hours, expect the price to plummet. It is clear that the Brazilian government, and organizations around the world, are finally waking up to the climate catastrophe promoted by corporate greed.