The Shifting Landscape of Brazilian Beef

Sao Paulo’s favorable climate, concentration of infrastructure, and proximity to the ocean has made the Brazilian state the historic center of the world’s largest beef and veal export industry. Yet surging global meat demand has caused a rush for new pastureland, and the Amazon has borne the brunt of the boom. Brazilian states such as Maranhao, Mato Grosso, and Tocantins—all of which legally fall within the Amazon—have consistently been exporting more beef and veal than Sao Paulo since 2015, a troubling sign for the future of the rainforest.