China Makes History with First Verified Sustainable Beef Shipment from Brazil

On November 18, during the COP30 Forestry Action Day, a remarkable achievement for global sustainable trade was announced: China received its first shipment of independently verified deforestation-free and conversion-free (vDCF) beef from Brazil. This milestone underscores China’s increasing demand for responsibly sourced products and their significance in advancing the global transition towards sustainability.

The verification process was conducted by BDO, which is also responsible for auditing the Brazilian exporter MBRF and its comprehensive monitoring system under the Boi na Linha protocol and DCF criteria developed by WWF and partners. The beef shipment underwent strict traceability from origin to slaughter, encompassing all direct and indirect suppliers with daily geospatial monitoring. This rigorous system ensures that no supply comes from deforested, embargoed areas, protected regions, or indigenous lands, while maintaining full compliance with social and environmental standards, exceeding previous industry benchmarks.

Lunyan Lu, CEO of WWF China, emphasized that this accomplishment resulted from collaborative efforts between WWF China, WWF Brazil, and various stakeholders. As the world marks the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement, China’s concrete purchasing decisions are becoming pivotal in accelerating the transition toward deforestation-free supply chains globally. By sending a strong signal of demand for DCF products, China is redefining market expectations.

WWF played a crucial facilitating role, enhancing dialogue and technical cooperation between Chinese and Brazilian parties. Through continuous collaboration with Chinese companies to commit to sustainable sourcing, and promoting green trade standards aligned with AFi, WWF contributed to generating clear market signals from China. These signals have prompted responses from Brazilian producers and advanced critical milestones toward discounted cash flow (DCF) supply chains.

Mauricio Voivodic, Executive Director of WWF-Brasil, added that both China and Brazil are increasingly influential in global climate governance. China’s interest in DCF products signals to Brazilian producers that adopting DCF measures offers a competitive edge in a high-demand market.

GAO Guan, Vice President of the China Meat Association (CMA), stated that over the past decade, the CMA and WWF have issued the China Sustainable Meat Development Statement, developed the collective standard for Green Trade Specifications for the Meat Industry, certified companies as 'Green Trade Demonstration Enterprises,' and advanced the transformation towards a green supply chain. The first verified shipment of DCF beef from Brazil highlights these efforts and marks China’s transition towards a verifiable and traceable green meat trade.

By prioritizing deforestation-free sourcing, China and Brazil exemplify leadership in aligning economic development with environmental integrity, offering credible solutions to the global challenges of deforestation. This new partnership in sustainable beef trade not only represents a victory for environmental ethics but also sets a precedent for future agricultural trade relationships around the world. It demonstrates how coordinated efforts can lead to positive environmental outcomes while meeting the demands of modern consumers who increasingly prioritize sustainability in their purchasing decisions. As the world moves forward, this milestone promises to foster a robust, responsible, and ecologically sound agricultural trade paradigm.

Sustainable Beef