Research confirms large meat processing corporates wield significant economic and political influence
An independent study has found that large profit-driven corporates in the industrial livestock and meat-processing sector world wide wield significant economic and political influence, with close relationships between governments and industry, and undue influence on policy-making.
The study was conducted by researchers from Deakin University, the University of Melbourne, and the University of Sydney. They looked at three case studies across global meat supply chains:
- soybean production in Brazil, for export to feedlots in China
- live animal export from Australia
- meat processing in the United States.
The researchers said that aside from the human health consequences of eating to excess or risking antibiotic resistance, many types of meat production operations produce substantial greenhouse gases. They also degrade and contaminate natural resources and contribute to biodiversity loss. Some operations also involve the exploitation of workers, or harmful treatment of animals.
They found that this is enabled because large profit-driven corporates in the industrial livestock and meat-processing sector wield significant economic and political influence. This enables many of the negative impacts associated with meat production to continue. It also means limited capacity to regulate them.
NOFF adds that there are parallels with the situation in Tasmanian salmon aquaculture, and that JBS, the world's largest meat processor, based in Brazil and dominant in meat processing in the USA and Australia, also owns Huon Aquaculture.