Relationships Between U.S. Beef Consumption and Latin American Rainforest Destruction

Abstract

Global destruction of tropical rainforests has become a concern to environmentalists and the U.S. beef industry. Current estimates indicate that the world’s forests and woodlands are being reduced at a rate of about 80,000km2 per year. Brazil currently accounts for about 35% of the annual destruction of closed, dense forests in Latin America. To save rainforests, several entities have promoted U.S. boycotts of fast food hamburgers. Utilizing foreign and domestic trade data, this study elucidated the relationships between Latin American deforestation and U.S. beef consumption. Total Central American beef and veal exports declined by more than 60% during the last decade, with exports to the U.S. declining by 40%, whereas deforestation rates during the same period remained strong. Less than .6% of all beef consumed by the U.S. is a product of Central America or Brazil. All meat imported to the U.S. from South America must be cooked and/or processed because foot-and-mouth disease has not been eradicated in those countries, and therefore the meat is not used in fast-food hamburgers. Over 73% of total U.S. meat imports are from Australia or New Zealand, and those only contribute about 5% to total U.S. beef consumption. Attempts by governments to increase foreign trade, debt problems, international lending policies, and rapid population growth have been more important factors contributing to Latin American deforestation. Boycotts of U.S. beef to preserve rainforests would be ineffective.