Food systems play a critical role in determining the future of forests around the world. Livestock farming and other forms of agriculture have also had a significant impact on the global climate change landscape. In Brazil, deforestation for pastures is one of the main causes of greenhouse gas emissions, and methane emissions from cattle digestion and animal waste decomposition further contribute to the problem. In addition to its climate and biodiversity impacts, food production in the Amazon is also linked to pervasive land grabbing and illegal deforestation, lending to corruption, fraud and laundering practices that harm indigenous peoples and local communities.
At this event, panels of experts and stakeholders will discuss ongoing challenges in addressing the environmental and social impacts of the Brazilian meat supply chain, as well as promising solutions for shifting food production in Brazil towards a more sustainable model.
From Forests to Farms: Tackling the Environmental and Social Impacts of Food Production in Brazil
Food systems play a critical role in determining the future of forests around the world. Livestock farming and other forms of agriculture have also had a significant impact on the global climate change landscape. In Brazil, deforestation for pastures is one of the main causes of greenhouse gas emissions, and methane emissions from cattle digestion and animal waste decomposition further contribute to the problem. In addition to its climate and biodiversity impacts, food production in the Amazon is also linked to pervasive land grabbing and illegal deforestation, lending to corruption, fraud and laundering practices that harm Indigenous peoples and local communities.
As part of this day-long series of programs, panels of experts and stakeholders will discuss ongoing challenges in addressing the environmental and social impacts of the Brazilian meat supply chain, as well as promising solutions for shifting food production in Brazil towards a more sustainable model.
Program
PROGRAM 1 — Watching Brazil's Food Systems: Traceability, Transparency & Integrity in the Meat Supply Chain
Produced by Transparency International Brazil
9:00 AM — Welcoming Address
Adalene is a Senior Fellow at the Guarini Center. Her current work and research focuses include local climate action, urban wild animals, and international environmental law and policy. In her time at the Guarini Center, Adalene has also worked on and led projects focusing on local food policy, land use, and providing capacity building assistance to the small island developing states in international treaty negotiations.
Alexandre Mansur is a journalist. He has worked for 30 years in mainstream media covering sustainability for outlets such as Jornal do Brasil, Veja magazine, and Época magazine. He writes for the Ideias Renováveis column in Exame magazine and for the Um Só Planeta portal of Grupo Globo. He is also a board member of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (Instituto Energia e Meio Ambiente), Green Initiative (Iniciativa Verde), and the Pro-UCs Network (Rede Pró-UCs). He is currently the project director of Mundo Que Queremos and coordinator of Radar Verde.
Dr Ketakandriana “Ke” Rafitoson is from Madagascar. She is a Malagasy anticorruption and pro-democracy activist and independent researcher. She is the Vice-Chair of Transparency International and served as the Executive Director of TI Madagascar from 2018 to 2024. Moreover, Ke co-founded several social movements in Madagascar and is the global Executive Director of Publish What You Pay (PWYP) – fighting for better governance of extractive industries. Ke is passionate about social justice and democracy.
9:15 AM — Presentation on Radar Verde & Panel A: Transparency & Traceability in the Brazilian Meat Supply Chain
Alexandre Mansur is a journalist. He has worked for 30 years in mainstream media covering sustainability for outlets such as Jornal do Brasil, Veja magazine, and Época magazine. He writes for the Ideias Renováveis column in Exame magazine and for the Um Só Planeta portal of Grupo Globo. He is also a board member of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (Instituto Energia e Meio Ambiente), Green Initiative (Iniciativa Verde), and the Pro-UCs Network (Rede Pró-UCs). He is currently the project director of Mundo Que Queremos and coordinator of Radar Verde.
Luísa Luz is a lawyer and historian who graduated from the University of São Paulo (USP). She has always worked in the nonprofit sector and specialized in social project management. She has worked on development and poverty eradication projects and is currently dedicated to promoting access to justice and collective rights as the Institutional Director of the Latin American Institute for Collective Justice (ILAJUC).
Rariany Monteiro is an economist specializing in green finance, focusing on solutions that connect financial regulation to environmental preservation. With specializations from the London School of Economics (LSE), Financial Economic Project Modeling from FIPE/USP, and PMP certifications, Rariany is a leader in coordinating Brazil’s Sustainable Taxonomy through WWF-Brazil. Her work involves strategic partnerships with financial institutions to improve traceability and transparency in agricultural supply chains, ensuring that financing does not contribute to illegal deforestation.
Ritaumaria Pereira, the current Executive Director of the Amazon Institute of People and the Environment (Imazon), is a dedicated Brazilian researcher with a rich academic background. She holds a Ph.D. in Geography from Michigan State University, a Master’s degree in Applied Economics from the Federal University of Viçosa, and an Agronomic Engineering degree from the Federal University of Bahia. Beyond her role at Imazon, Pereira has also conducted post-doctoral research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Since 2002, her research has focused on the Amazon, particularly on cattle ranching, agrarian reform, and economic development.
10:15 AM — Panel B: Countering Deforestation & Corruption in the Brazilian Amazon
Bruno Brandão is an economist from the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Master in Public Management from the University of York (United Kingdom) and in International Relations from Barcelona Institute of International Studies (Spain). He has worked for Transparency International (TI) for over ten years, having experience in the organization’s Secretariat in Germany, coordinating the Climate Financing Integrity Program in Mexico and, since 2016, he has been the executive director of the organization’s Brazilian chapter.
Carlos Andrés Baquero-Díaz is the research director of the NYU TERRA Program at the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice. His research focuses on socio-environmental justice, property and environmental rights, and Indigenous peoples rights. Currently, he co-curates the More-Than-Human Life Project (MOTH) and the FORGE program, and serves as senior editor at Open Global Rights. He has taught classes on environmental law at Universidad de los Andes and currently is an adjunct professor on critical property and environmental rights at NYU Law School.
Giulia Bondi holds 10 years’ experience in the NGO sector working on climate, environmental and human rights issues. Giulia is currently Senior Forests Campaigner at Global Witness, an international NGO that challenges abuses of power and campaigns against climate breakdown. Previously joining Global Witness, Giulia worked as climate justice and energy officer at CIDSE, an international development NGO, coordinating advocacy activities on topics such as agriculture, finance and human rights at several UN climate change negotiations (COPs), including COP21 in Paris. Giulia studied International Relations and holds a master’s degree in European policies – but she believes having received the best formation from engagement with grassroots communities.
Maria Laura Canineu is the deputy director of the Environment and Human Rights division. Between 2013 and 2023, she served as the Brazil Director in the Americas Division at Human Rights Watch. Before joining Human Rights Watch, she directed a team of public lawyers, handling human rights issues. This included children’s, women’s, labor, LGBT and indigenous people’s rights, as well as health and education issues
COFFEE BREAK (11:15 – 11:30 AM)
PROGRAM 2 — Transforming Brazil’s Food Systems: Best Practices for Promoting Biodiversity and Combating Climate Change
11:30 AM — Panel Discussion
Grazielle Parenti has over 28 years of experience and high-profile participation in the Food and Agriculture Industry, having worked for BRF, Diageo, and Mondelez. She holds a Business B.A. from Fundação Getúlio Vargas (“FGV”), an MBA with emphasis in Marketing from FIA/USP, and a Graduate Degree in Public Policy from FGV. Up until July 2022, she was the Vice President of Global Institutional Relations and Sustainability for BRF and held the position of Council President of ABIA – Brazilian Association of the Food Industry –, as well as President of the BRF Institute, and Counselor in the Executive Council of Foreign Trade for the Ministry of Economy.
João Adrien is the Head of ESG at Agriculture Directory at Itau-BBA, the largest private investment bank in Brazil. João is an economist, specialized in public policies for sustainable agriculture and climate change agenda. Prior to this, he served as Special Adviser for the Socioenvironmental Agenda at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, as well as the Environmental Regularization Director at the Brazilian Forestry Service. João is also Vice President of the Brazilian Rural Society, an important farmer association, and he is a member of the Executive Group of the Brazilian Coalition on Climate, Forest and Agriculture.
John de la Parra, PhD, is the Director of the Global Food Portfolio at The Rockefeller Foundation, where he leads initiatives to create a more sustainable and nourishing food system. An ethnobotanist and plant chemist, he specializes in food crops and medicinal plants. He also lectures on ethnobotany and food innovation at Harvard and has held research and teaching positions at MIT, Tufts, and Northeastern University. His work is inspired by his upbringing on a farm in Alabama and his family’s roots in México and South America.
Salo Coslovsky is an Associate Professor at NYU, where he teaches courses in economic development and policy implementation. He holds a bachelor degree in Public Administration from FGV (Brazil), a master’s in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University and a PhD in Urban Studies from MIT. Since 2020 he has been a researcher with the Amazonia 2030 Project. Prof. Coslovsky writes a monthly column for O Estado de São Paulo and his research on forest-friendly products has been featured in multiple Brazilian and international outlets.
1:00 PM — Lunch Talk: Opportunities for Generating Carbon Credits by Brazilian Agribusiness
At this lunch talk, representatives from three Brazilian companies will come together to present cases from Brazilian farms that generate carbon credits, and discuss promising opportunities for developing new agricultural sources of carbon credits, such as fruits, coffee, cocoa, rubber trees, and other perennial plant-based agriculture. The group will also launch a public invite to contribute to this development. Food and beverages to be provided.
This lunch talk is generously sponsored by Citrosuco, Eccon Soluções Ambientais, and Reservas Votorantim. Vegan options available.
Mr. David Canassa holds the position of Executive Director at Reservas Votorantim, Votorantim’s pioneering platform for nature-based solutions. With more than 20 years dedicated to sustainability within Votorantim’s companies, he also serves as a member of São Paulo Board of Environmental Management. Mr. Canassa holds a Master’s degree in Energy Efficiency, as well as an MBA in Sustainability, Business Management and Environment.
As Head of ESG at Citrosuco, the global leader in the citrus value chain, Orlando leads the ESG agenda across strategy, governance, performance, disclosure, and stakeholder engagement. He has over 10 years of experience in sustainability and social impact, working with diverse sectors such as mining, agribusiness, and building materials in Brazil, Europe, and the USA, applying agile and hybrid project management methods.
Yuri is CEO at ECCON Soluções Ambientais with 20 years of experience in the environmental field. Yuri founded ECCON in 2014 and the company has become one of the leading environmental consultancies in Brazil. Holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Environmental Law from the Faculdade de Direito do Largo de São Francisco –University of São Paulo (USP). Consultant for the Waterloo Global Science Initiative (Canada) and Fellow of the Kinship Conservation Fellowship Program (United States).
COFFEE BREAK (2:00 – 3:00 PM)
PROGRAM 3 — Tackling Deforestation and Transforming Cattle Production in Brazil
Produced by the Nature Conservancy Brazil, IDH - The Sustainable Trade Initiative & the Tropical Forest Alliance
3:00 PM – 5:30 PM (in Portuguese and English with dual translation provided)
Keynote Address
- Helder Barbalho, Governor of Pará, Brazil
Speakers
- Caio Penido, President, Mato Gross Meat Institute
- Carlos Ernesto Augustin, Special Advisor to the Ministry of Agriculture, Brazil
- Daan Wensing, CEO, IDH – The Sustainable Trade Initiative
- Gabriel Azevedo, Chief Strategy Officer, IDB Invest
- Julia Mangueira, Director for the Cerrado, The Nature Conservancy – Brazil
- Maria Netto, Executive Director, Institute for Climate and Society
- Mauro Lúcio Costa, Brazilian Cattle Rancher
- Paula Caballero, Regional Managing Director for Latin America, The Nature Conservancy
- Peng Ren, Program Manager, Overseas Investment, Trade and the Environment Program, Global Environmental Institute
- Raul Protázio Romão, Secretary of Environment and Sustainability, Pará, Brazil
SPONSORED BY
DATE & TIME
Interested in more Climate Week events? Check out our full list of climate events happening at NYU Law.