USAID's $40M pledge to save the Amazon

Nov 18, 2024
By Farms.com

Funds aim to shield millions of hectares

During the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, an announcement from the President marked a significant commitment by USAID to the Brazilian Amazon. With a pledge of nearly $40 million, USAID aims to protect over 42 million hectares of forest and Indigenous lands.

The funds are designated for a range of activities across the Brazilian Amazon's nine states. These include enhancing forest fire management techniques, fostering regenerative agricultural practices in high-deforestation risk areas, and improving land use management in Indigenous territories.

Additionally, the initiatives will strengthen local bioeconomy value chains, ensuring that economic growth does not come at the expense of environmental degradation.

This strategic investment is expected to catalyze further contributions from U.S. philanthropic organizations and the private sector, aiming to create a robust economic system that harmonizes economic development with conservation efforts.

The announcement underscores more than three decades of partnership aimed at safeguarding the Amazon rainforest.

Through collaborative efforts with the Brazilian government and various stakeholders, USAID continues to support Brazil's environmental and social objectives, promoting a sustainable future for one of the planet's most vital ecosystems.

Video: What Does 20 MILLION Hogs a Year Look Like?

?? The Multi-Plant System Processing 20 Million Hogs Annually in the Midwest JBS USA operates multiple large-scale pork processing facilities across the Midwest, including major plants in Iowa, Minnesota, and Indiana. Combined, these facilities have the capacity to process approximately 20 million hogs annually.

Each plant operates high-speed automated slaughter systems capable of processing up to 20,000 head per day, followed by fabrication lines that break carcasses into primals, sub-primals, and case-ready retail products.

Hog procurement is coordinated through electronic marketing platforms that connect regional contract finishing operations and independent producers to plant demand schedules. This digital procurement system allows for steady supply flow and scheduling efficiency across multiple facilities.

Processing plants incorporate comprehensive food safety systems, including pathogen intervention technologies, rapid chilling processes, and integrated cold-chain management. USDA inspection is embedded throughout the harvest and fabrication stages to ensure regulatory compliance and product integrity. Finished pork products — from bulk primals to retail-ready packaged cuts — are distributed through coordinated logistics networks serving domestic and export markets.