Brazil
Environmental advocacy group Mighty Earth recently discovered that several Brazilian beef companies, including JBS, Marfrig and Minerva, raised cattle on land within the state of Mato Grosso where several herbicides were used to deforest the land to use for ranching. These herbicides contained compounds of the defoliant Agent Orange, which is linked to numerous diseases and health risks.

Claudecy Oliveira Lemes, the rancher involved, was fined $521 million for the environmental crimes committed. As more negative research is revealed surrounding the environmental harm caused by the practices of some cattle ranchers in Brazil, the potential for divestment from the country increases, which could lead to a boost in demand for hides sourced from the US or other regions not linked with deforestation.

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