You are at a restaurant, and you are enjoying a good steak with fries. When it is time to pay the bill, you take out your beautiful leather wallet and leave the establishment with your suede jacket on your shoulders. But did you ever ask yourself where they come from, and what impact they have on deforestation?
It is interesting to look at the livestock sector because 85% of the world's livestock farmers are located in sub-Saharan Africa, and with climate change, the transhumance routes of Sahelian herds evolve and tend to reach new grazing sites and forests. Beyond the environmental impact, this can generate additional conflicts between pastoralists (herders who practice pastoralism) and farmers. Despite the importance of the sector, the European Union buys very little beef from Africa—Namibia is the main African exporter, followed by Botswana. How is this possible, particularly given European health requirements? And does the country meet the requirements of the EU Deforestation-free Regulation?
For hides and skins and leather, while the main industrial tanneries are located in North Africa, South Africa, Nigeria, and Ethiopia, sustainability, environmental and traceability issues are very challenging.
The soybean production is still limited on the continent, but it is increasing because it is profitable and requires fewer inputs than corn, rice, etc. And Togo, a small West African country, is now the EU's leading supplier of organic soybeans, ahead of India and Ukraine.
Let's explore these sectors on the African continent to understand how the supply chains operate and to see the challenges related to sustainability and deforestation.
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