Recently, we have seen an increase in the number of forest fires in the Amazon. The fires are now so severe that smoke is visible from space. By mid-August, Brazil’s National Institute of Space Research (INPE) had counted more than 41,000 fires in Brazil’s Amazon so far this year, last year’s figure was 22,000 over the same period.
In a press release, Skretting Norway has addressed concerns over the recent images of deforestation, a practice called slash-and-burn, the system in which the Amazon has been set ablaze to make room for agriculture or other development.
Skretting Norway wrote that it buys only soy from areas without deforestation from Brazil: “There is no indication that farmers who supply us are responsible for the fires. Almost all the soy we use is grown in Matto Grasso, Brazil, an area outside the Amazon. But recent developments may be fatal to the reputation of soy in the aquaculture value chain. We rightly expect that this situation will increase the pressure from environmental protection organizations and that consumers may not accept Brazilian soy in the fish feed. Although there it certified deforestation-free”.
“We have contacted our Brazilian suppliers and told them about our concern that what is happening now will destroy the reputation of soy from Brazil,” said Skretting Sustainability Manager Trygve Berg Lea.
Skretting added that it has had a dialogue with the Rainforest Foundation about our purchases of Brazilian soy. The Rainforest Foundation is working to stop what is happening in Brazil now. Skretting supports the Rainforest Foundation’s concerns and commitment.
“Skretting has long recognized the importance of having flexibility when putting together salmon feed. Our work on finding and developing the availability of alternative raw materials is fast moving forward. Developments in Brazil show the importance that we have been doing research and development for years in order to handle growth in aquaculture and to minimize the risk of raw materials for various reasons no longer being available. Thanks to this work, we are now able to be flexible and able to adapt to challenging situations,” said Skreting Chief Executive Therese Log Bergjord.
“We respect Brazil’s self-reliance on its own natural resources. But the Amazon is important to our entire planet,” said Berg Lea.
The Amazon rainforest contributes to the world’s climate and oxygen production. As many as one-third of the world’s animal and plant species live here and are home to several indigenous communities. The destruction of the rainforest can lead to major changes in the ecology of the region as the forest absorbs almost all of the carbon produced by humans on the South American continent.
