Often presented as a sustainable alternative, Foodrise has shown over the past years that farmed fish production is based on a highly unsustainable mode of production, including, but not limited to, its reliance on wild fish as feed. To satisfy the rapidly growing sector’s ongoing demand for wild ‘feed’ fish, these are increasingly sourced from food-insecure West Africa, where stocks are already under pressure following decades of overfishing of the region’s waters by foreign vessels. Recently, Foodrise travelled to Dakar to discuss this issue with grassroots organisations representing coastal communities affected, and to kick off our newest fish campaign, Notre Poisson (Our Fish) – a collaborative three-year campaign focusing on the fishmeal and oil industry in the region and its links to Europe.

Widely presented as a healthy, climate-friendly protein alternative to meat, a way to protect fish stocks and ‘solve world hunger’, most consumers are unaware that lots of the farmed fish we eat are fed wild fish in the form of fishmeal and oil.

Each year almost a fifth of the world’s marine catch is reduced to fishmeal and oil, the majority of which is used to produce feed for the aquaculture industry – today, the world’s fastest-growing food production sector.

To satisfy the sector’s demand for wild fish, the fishmeal and oil industry has expanded into West Africa. Focusing on Mauritania, Senegal and the Gambia, the number of factories in the region has boomed from 5 to 49 in the past decade.

Today, over half a million tonnes of small pelagic fish, enough to feed over 33 million people, are instead caught, reduced, and exported—from a region dependent on fish as a vital source of affordable protein and micronutrients—to feed farmed fish and livestock elsewhere. These same small pelagic fish are the main source of income for thousands of fishermen and female traders and processors across the region.

While most of the fishmeal goes to China, Europe—home to several of the world’s largest aquafeed companies: Cargill Aqua Nutrition/EWOS, Skretting, Mowi and BioMar (all of which are involved in the trade of fishmeal and oil trade from West Africa)—is the largest importer of fish oil from the region.

Home also to some of the largest farmed fish producers in the world, well-known European retailers are sourcing from companies with supply chain links to these four aquafeed companies. More directly, European firms have invested in factories in West Africa.

Since 2018, Foodrise has established a robust body of evidence on the damaging socio-ecological impacts of feed production for the fish farming sector and campaigned to reform aquaculture, so it delivers the greatest nutritional value for the least environmental impact, does not contribute to destructive fishing, deplete fish stocks, or worsen global food injustice.

To date, this work has largely focused on Europe. Our newest fish campaign, Notre Poisson (Our Fish), now combines this work with a collaborative three-year project comprising partners in Britain, the EU, and West Africa.

Our collective goal is to secure legislative and policy change via a three-year programme of coordinated research, investigation, and advocacy designed to influence politicians and policymakers and equip civil society and consumers with the knowledge and tools to demand policies and actions that protect ecosystems and support food sovereignty of West African communities and nations.

They steal our fish and jobs

At the end of November, we organised a three-day project kick-off meeting with our partners in Dakar, Senegal. Also in attendance, were representatives of several grassroots organisations from Senegal, Mauritania, and the Gambia, who provided first-hand testimony of the devastating impacts of the fishmeal and oil industry on local communities across the region.

According to a report published by the FAO earlier this year, the rapid expansion of the industry in the region has had negative impacts on fish stocks and fishing livelihoods. The social benefits of the industry to the region have been limited and have been “accompanied by threats to livelihoods, employment, food security and nutrition, and the health and well-being of local communities.”

Reflecting this, “they steal our fish and jobs” was a common theme over the course of our discussions together. The devastating impacts of the diversion of catches from human consumption to the production of fishmeal and oil for export on the availability and affordability of fish were particularly salient. The implications for women fish processors and traders are especially acute.

Stressing the severity of the problem, Diaba Diop, president of Réseau des Femmes de la Pêche Artisanale du Sénégal (REFEPAS), an organisation that represents women fish processors and traders, warned “our survival depends on our ocean”.

Undelivered promises from factories, in terms of jobs, and direct environmental and health impacts, in terms of environmental pollution, smells, and consequent impacts on tourism were also highlighted by participants from across the region. Drawing on his own experiences in the Gambia, Biochemist Ahmed Manjang (CETAG) highlighted just how serious these were.

Adding to these, participants shared stories of the historical, as well as the ongoing, decimation of fish stocks off the West African coast, more generally, by foreign fishing interests and the knock-on implications of this in terms of illegal migration from the region.

In Kayar, Maty Ndaw, a woman fish processor and member of the Taxawu Kayar Collective—who this autumn, began historic legal proceedings against the fishmeal factory located on the edge of their town—shared, “we see our children migrating and dying in the ocean”. Located in the Thiès region, 36 miles northeast of Dakar, artisanal fishing is the main economic activity in Kayar, employing and feeding the population of roughly 18,000 people. The Collective represents a cross-section of the community, most of whom are engaged in fishing or fish one way or another.

We had travelled to the fishing village to hear about the Collective’s more than a decade long struggle against the factory there. Originally owned by Spanish company Barna, the factory was sold this summer to Senegalese owned Touba Protéine Marine.

While there, a street in from the white sand beach full of colourful pirogues, we witnessed near-empty processing facilities. Once worked by over three hundred women fish processors, today, these traditional facilities are used by less than fifty. Another street in, modernised processing facilities are unused. Without fish, the facilities lie idle.

Direct competition with the fishmeal factory for fish, alongside declining catches, means processors have been priced out of the market, with knock-on implications in terms of availability of fish for the local population. According to the FAO, the impact of the fishmeal and oil industry on food security and nutrition in Senegal, where almost half of the country’s protein comes from fish, is considerable.

Across the road from the fishmeal factory, at the lake on the edge of Kayar, clear evidence was visible of the waste dumped by the fishmeal factory. This lake connects to the town’s water supply. Its pollution forms the basis of the Collective’s legal action against the factory.

An ongoing trajectory of stolen resources

Controlled by foreign investors and reliant on catches from already precarious stocks, that the fishmeal and oil industry in the region is threatening fish stocks, food security and livelihoods in West Africa is by now well documented. The lived realities of those from around the coasts are testament to these impacts.

The Kayar case was dismissed by the judge in November on account of there being reasonable doubt that the factory was the cause of the water pollution. The appetite of local, national, and cross-national communities and organisations, however, to unite and work together to tackle this industry is strong.

The problem is also clearly recognised by communities as part of an ongoing trajectory of stolen resources from the African continent.

Implemented together with West African partners RAMPAO, Greenpeace Africa, ADEPA, CAOPA, SRFC, PRCM, alongside Lancaster Universities, in close collaboration with grassroots organisations representing coastal communities across the region, we want to force change in this industry, and those related to it, by turning this issue into one of key concern for a broad group of civil society actors to campaign jointly in West Africa and in Europe.

Ultimately, we want to see better regulation of the industry in the region, and an end to the use of fish fit for human consumption by the industry. As part of this, we will work to increase pressure on companies involved in or related to this sector to hold aquafeed companies who source from West Africa, and aquaculture companies who source from these, accountable for their sustainability promises.

During our discussions in Dakar, Mansour Brahim Boidaha, president of ONG Zakia, an organisation working on this issue in Mauritania, where the boom in this industry has been especially concentrated, pointed out that people from Europe should know that the fish from West Africa is processed to fishmeal and oil, with little benefit to the region’s population.

Summing up the nature of the problem, representing Senegalese small-scale fishermen, Abdou Karim Sall, president of Plateforme des Acteurs de la Peche Artisanales du Sénégal (PAPAs), highlighted the problem wasn’t one just relating to fishmeal, but of their being, their identity. This is about our fish, he said. This is about African fish.

Foodrise will be speaking at two events at COP27 which you can attend virtually!

Event 1. Divest, defund and regulate industrial livestock (Tues 15th)

Register here: https://hsi.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IxHfbs78SROXdEa27WoZfw

Livestock is responsible for about 14.5% of global emissions and, if current trends continue, the global livestock industry will be using up almost half the world’s 1.5°C emissions budget by 2030. Join us to discuss how we divest, defund and regulate this industry.

Event 2. Why the climate crisis demands food waste regulation (Weds 16th)

Register here: https://hsi.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7UInREB3TaiTh5axYpxmOg 

The EU wastes more food than it imports, damaging EU food security amid the cost-of-living crisis, according to a recent Foodrise EU report. Food waste also costs EU businesses and households an estimated €143 billion a year, and causes at least 6% of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Halving EU food waste by 2030 would save an estimated 4.7 million hectares of agricultural land. In this context, a growing chorus of organisations are calling for food waste policies regulations to tackle the issue at the speed needed. 43 European organisations are calling for the EU to set legally binding targets to halve EU food waste from farm to fork by 2030. Inspiring new policies to fight food waste are being proposed around Europe, which aim to move beyond the slow pace of change achieved by voluntary commitments.

Join us for talks and discussion from inspiring speakers, giving a comprehensive overview of why the EU (and countries around the world) need to set legally binding targets to halve food waste, and the policies we can use to accelerate action. Featuring inspiring speakers from Germany, Denmark, Spain and the UK – and with many transferable lessons to countries around the world.

We have launched a formal legal challenge against the UK government for its failure to adopt measures to reduce meat and dairy production and consumption, contrary to the recommendations of its own expert climate advisers.

Both the independent review of the National Food Strategy written by Henry Dimbleby and commissioned by the government in 2019 and the Climate Change Committee (CCC), an independent, statutory body established under the Climate Change Act, have identified substantial reductions in meat and dairy as essential to tackle climate change. However, the Government Food Strategy, published in June, ignored the clear advice on meat and dairy reduction coming from both the CCC and the Independent Review. This makes the strategy unlawful and is at odds with the government’s Net Zero Strategy which stated the Food Strategy would outline how emissions savings in food and agriculture would be achieved in support of climate targets.

The only references to reducing livestock emissions are unproven technical approaches, which explicitly oppose the displacement of livestock. With regard to the alternative protein sector, the strategy makes it clear that this is seen as additional to livestock farming, not displacing it. Henry Dimbleby recently stated that meat reduction is critical for emissions reduction but is seen as ‘politically toxic’. Since the publication of the Government Food Strategy, the UK has experienced the hottest day on record. Meaningful action on climate change must be taken and this must include meat reduction.

Carina Millstone, Executive Director of Feedback said: The government has announced some ambitious emission reduction targets but failed to formulate the policies required to meet them. This creates the truly dangerous illusion that it is tackling climate change while continuing business-as-usual. Meanwhile in the real world, expert evidence unequivocally shows that curtailing meat and dairy is critical for all transition pathways to net zero. Rather than outlining plans to support the public and farmers in making the shift to low-carbon foods as promised, the Food Strategy blithely ignored the meat and dairy question altogether. We want the government to go back to the drawing board and come up with a strategy that delivers for the climate rather than one that simply spurts yet more hot air.’

De uitstoot van broeikasgassen van het grootste vleesbedrijf ter wereld, JBS, is in de afgelopen vijf jaar met maar liefst 51% toegenomen, waarmee het bedrijf nog verder verwijderd raakt van het doel in 2040 netto klimaatneutraal te zijn. Het bedrijf is nu namelijk verantwoordelijk voor een uitstoot meer dan twee keer onze jaarlijkse Nederlandse klimaatvoetafdruk, zo blijkt uit nieuw onderzoek.

Een coalitie van actiegroepen – waaronder Feedback EU, IATP, Desmog en Mighty Earth – is woedend over de buitensporige uitstoot van JBS. In vijf jaar tijd heeft het bedrijf het aantal dieren om te slachten verhoogd naar 28 miljoen runderen (54% omhoog), naar 48 miljoen varkens (67% omhoog) en naar 5 miljard kippen (40% omhoog). Het is dan ook geen verrassing dat nieuw onderzoek van IATP, Feedback EU en Desmog op basis van een door de VN goedgekeurde methode laat zien dat de emissies tussen 2016 en 2021 met 51% is toegenomen, van 280 megaton tot 421,6 megaton CO2 equivalent. Dat is meer dan twee keer zoveel als de jaarlijkse uitstoot van Nederland en de helft van wat Shell elk jaar uitstoot.

Voorafgaand aan de jaarlijkse algemene vergadering van het bedrijf die morgen plaatsvindt in São Paulo dringt de coalitie investeerders er op aan om afstand te doen van hun investeringen in JBS. Naast grote beleggers uit de VS en Brazilië wordt ook Nederland gerepresenteerd in het lijstje van top 10 aan investeerders, met ABP op nummer 8.

Frank Mechielsen, directeur Feedback EU: “ABP kan verwachten dat de lovende woorden over het stopzetten van hun beleggingen in fossiele brandstoffen naar de achtergrond zullen verdwijnen. ABP zou het voorbeeld van PFZW moeten volgen die eind 2021 uit JBS is gestapt vanwege incidenten over landgebruik en biodiversiteit. Ook de Robeco en Aegon zouden morgen de kans moeten grijpen om de ‘greenwashing’ van JBS aan te kaarten. Of ze dat gaan doen is een tweede vraag.”

Dirk-Jan Verdonk . directeur World Animal Protection Nederland voegt daaraan toe: ‘Het is wrang dat uitgerekend ABP, het pensioenfonds van de overheid, tientallen miljoenen euro’s in JBS investeert. Aan de ene kant heeft de Nederlandse overheid de mond vol over kringlooplandbouw, dierwaardige veehouderij en het verminderen van vleesconsumptie, aan de andere kant wordt het pensioengeld van ambtenaren gebruikt om een voedselsysteem in stand te houden met desastreuze gevolgen voor mens, dier en planeet.’

In het laatste rapport van de IPCC dat deze maand verscheen wordt specifiek aanbevolen om de uitstoot van methaan door de veehouderij tegen 2030 met een derde te verminderen om de temperatuurstijging tot 1,5º C te beperken. Veeteelt is verantwoordelijk voor 32% van alle methaan emissies. De opwarming door methaan is 84 keer zo hoog dan door CO2. Met de geplande uitbreiding die het bedrijf hoopt te doen en de zoektocht naar meer financiering op de beurs in de VS zal de uitstoot in plaats van verminderen alleen nog maar meer stijgen.

“Het is onthutsend dat JBS in één jaar meer klimaatemissies heeft dan heel Italië,” zei Shefali Sharma, directeur van het IATP, het Instituut voor Landbouw en Handelsbeleid Europa, dat in 2018 schatte dat de uitstoot van JBS ruwweg de helft was van die van oliemultinationals zoals BP of Shell. De nieuw berekende uitstoot laat zien hoe dringend het is om publieke verantwoording af te moeten leggen en onafhankelijke toetsing van klimaatclaims van grote vleesbedrijven te hebben. JBS is het perfecte voorbeeld van de schade die wordt aangericht door loze ambities om klimaatneutraal te worden.”

Met activiteiten in 20 landen en een recordomzet van 72 miljard dollar, beloofde JBS vorig jaar om tegen 2040 een netto-nul-uitstoot te bereiken. De plannen bevatten echter weinig details en zijn door campagnevoerders bekritiseerd, omdat ze de zogenaamde ‘Scope 3’-emissies buiten beschouwing laten. Scope 3-emissies omvatten de hele productieketen en zijn verantwoordelijk voor 97% van de uitstoot van JBS. Het niet meenemen van scope 3-emissies geeft dus een gigantische onderschatting van de bijdrage die JBS doet aan klimaatverandering door ontbossing, verandering in landgebruik, productie van voer en het gebruik van brandstof en landbouwchemicaliën.

Tegelijk met het onderzoek van het IATP over de uitstoot van JBS publiceerde Mighty Earth het rapport “The Boys From Brazil”, waarin werd benadrukt dat de rundveeproductie de grootste aanjager is van ontbossing en de daaraan gerelateerde emissies in het Amazonegebied. Ook bleek dat JBS verantwoordelijk was voor naar schatting 1,5 miljoen hectare ontbossing in Brazilië sinds 2008. Naast het meermaals niet nakomen van beloften om ontbossing in het Amazonegebied en andere ecosystemen zoals de Cerrado en de Pantanal te stoppen, is JBS ook in verband gebracht met omkoping, prijsafspraken, landroof, uitbuiting van arbeiders, moderne slavernij en milieuvervuiling.

Het is voor Frank Mechielsen van Feedback EU dan ook duidelijk: “Het is hoog tijd dat het pensioenfonds ABP, en banken en investeerders zoals Robeco en Aegon, hun verantwoordelijkheid nemen en stoppen met het financieren van de klimaatcrisis en de vernietiging van de natuur. Trek die stekker eruit en stop de financiële steun aan JBS en dochterondernemingen!”

Nederlands fondsbeheerder Actiam besloot dit in 2020 al te doen toen uit een evaluatie bleek dat JBS geen vooruitgang boekte in de gestelde doelstellingen over onder andere ontbossing. PFZW volgde eind 2021. De coalitie hoopt dat andere aandeelhouders volgen, en dat zij van de gelegenheid gebruik maken om morgen voor het algemene welzijn van ons allen op te komen en hun ultimatums te geven tijdens de vergadering. Dat mogen we toch zeker wel verwachten van pensioenfondsen en banken die onze toekomst willen waarborgen?

Einde

Perscontacten:

Nederland: Frank Mechielsen, Directeur Feedback EU: 06-55481678  frank@foodrise.org.uk

Engelstalig: Shefali Sharma, Director IATP: +49 177 1469613  ssharma@iatp.org

Alex Wijeratna:  Mighty Earth +44 7725406730  awijeratna@mightyearth.org

Notes for editors:

1. The full DeSmog, IATP and /Feedback joint media briefing on JBS’s emissions and climate greenwash can be found at: [link to come].
2. Infographics and supplemental reading can be found here [link to come].