1. Beef

Beef Stories

Mass soybean harvesting at a farm in Brazil

The story of soy

Behind beef, soy is the second largest agricultural driver of deforestation worldwide. From the Northern Great Plains of the U.S. to the Amazon of Brazil, forests, grasslands, and wetlands are being plowed up to make room for more soy production. 

  • Deforestation fronts

    January 13, 2021

    A new WWF report on global forest cover and forest loss finds that over 160,000 square miles, an area roughly the size of California, were lost in deforestation hot spots around the world between 2004 and 2017. Deforestation puts human health and the health of our planet at risk. 

    Deforestation aerial photo of lush green forest on the left and bare brown dirt next to it on the right

  • WWF celebrates and supports ranching stewardship programs

    Ranchers are often the first to admit they prefer to shy away from the spotlight. However, when they do participate, there is an opportunity to elevate the conversation about North American sustainable beef production and private lands stewardship while celebrating innovation and leadership with their peers. WWF supports stewardship award recognition programs in all five Northern Great Plains states (MT, ND, SD, WY, NE), where ranchers manage the majority of the NGP’s remaining intact grasslands. 

    Lyle Perman

  • Solutions for a hot, crowded, and hungry world

    Energy production is the largest source of these emissions, but agriculture contributes a significant share—about 24%, according to the World Resources Institute. Clearly, improving the way we produce food is critical in the fight against climate change.

    farming in kenya

  • Soil Carbon: A Scientist Makes a Bold Guarantee

    WWF Magazine: Fall 2014
    Holistically Managed Livestock Can Bring Back Our Grasslands
    Zebra

  • Degraded Land: Holding the Line on Brazil’s Resources

    WWF Magazine: Fall 2014
    Shifting from cattle to crops optimizes land use
    Plant sprouting between urban and rural