During the First Movers Coalition for Food panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Gilberto Tomazoni, CEO of JBS Global, voiced concerns about the impact of certain initiatives on food affordability and the importance of regenerative agriculture.
The panel, which also featured key figures from PepsiCo, the Eleven Foundation, and Indofood, delved into the role of major corporations and governments in enhancing sustainability within the food production sector and in fostering the development of low-carbon products.
Tomazoni highlighted regenerative agriculture as a crucial strategy in addressing the dual challenges of climate change and the need to feed a rapidly growing global population, projected to hit 10 billion by 2050.
“Throughout the food chain, we must help our producer partners adopt new technologies and manage their operations more sustainably, according to the highest environmental standards,” he said.
Regenerative agriculture and sustainable farming
The JBS CEO pointed out that while the necessary technology for sustainable practices is already available, the main barrier lies in securing the initial capital, especially for small-scale producers.
“Especially for the small producer, access to initial capital is essential to transition to more sustainable practices such as planting cocoa in addition to rearing livestock, reducing the need to clear land and ensuring small producer productivity and income generation,” he added.
Tomazoni highlighted a critical disparity, noting that while food systems contribute to 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, they receive less than 4% of climate financing. This, he suggested, is an area that requires urgent attention and action.
The food sector, generating $10 trillion and accounting for 40% of all jobs globally, plays a pivotal role in the world economy and employment landscape. It is also a major consumer of resources, accounting for over 70% of global freshwater consumption.
As a leading animal protein processor, JBS has outlined its commitment to reaching net zero by 2040, as well as investing $100 million in research and development of emission mitigation solutions, including improvements in regenerative agriculture practices, by 2025. At COP28, the company joined the First Movers Coalition for Food during COP28, an initiative led by the World Economic Forum and supported by the government of the United Arab Emirates and 19 other companies.
In late 2023, over 170 major food and beverage companies launched a global framework for regenerative agriculture, marking the first globally-aligned approach for the transition to regenerative agriculture practices.
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