MBRF and Embrapa launch Low-Carbon Beef at COP30
New certification is part of the Low-Carbon Beef (CBC) Protocol, developed with support from the NGO Amigos da Terra – Amazônia Brasileira
Recognizing and valuing rural producers who adopt good agricultural practices aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—while reconciling productivity with environmental conservation—is the purpose of the Low-Carbon Beef. The certification, launched on November 16 during COP30, is based on the Low-Carbon Beef Protocol developed by Embrapa (the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation) in partnership with MBRF and with support from Amigos da Terra – Amazônia Brasileira.
Among its key aspects, the protocol defines technical criteria and indicators that enable the monitoring and certification of rural properties applying sustainable intensification systems—crop-livestock integration (CLI), high-performance pastures, pasture restoration, and efficient soil and water management. These techniques boost carbon sequestration in soil and vegetation, reduce the climate impact of livestock activity, and promote more efficient land use, easing pressure on new areas with native vegetation. In practice, the Low-Carbon Beef will assure consumers that the beef was produced under rigorous environmental criteria and through auditable processes, setting a new benchmark for sustainability in the Brazilian beef supply chain.
“With this seal, we take a decisive step toward consolidating a low-carbon beef chain that is transparent, auditable, and capable of generating value for both producers and consumers. It is an advancement that reinforces Brazil’s leadership in the sustainable agriculture agenda and in the implementation of ABC+ Plan technologies. The Low-Carbon Beef Protocol translates, into technical and measurable criteria, our commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and valuing producers who adopt good agricultural practices, such as pasture restoration, crop-livestock integration, and efficient soil and water management,” says Embrapa’s president, Silvia Massruhá.
“We support initiatives like this, which accelerate the adoption of low-carbon technologies proposed in the ABC+ Plan, the Brazilian government’s policy for climate change mitigation and adaptation. The Low-Carbon Beef Protocol is a very comprehensive technical package and becomes even more relevant with this certification, positioning Brazil as a potential global leader in sustainable agriculture. The benefits for producers go beyond environmental recognition and include more productive pastures, higher-value beef, access to more demanding markets, and greater farm resilience—with more fertile soils and reduced vulnerability to climate change,” says Natália Grossi, livestock supply chain analyst at Friends of the Earth – Brazilian Amazon.
The certification seal will be used by MBRF, one of the world’s largest food companies, with a multiprotein portfolio that includes beef. The company created the Verde+ Program, launched in 2020 and structured around the pillars of production, conservation, and inclusion. “We promote continuous actions toward low-carbon livestock farming—100% monitored, free of deforestation, and inclusive. Low-Carbon Beef is a recognition that validates our efforts and highlights the importance of integrating science and field practices to reduce emissions, drive sustainability, and demonstrate that agribusiness is—and must be—part of the global climate solution,” says Paulo Pianez, MBRF’s Director of Sustainability and Institutional Relations.
The partners expect that, as adoption of the protocol grows and more producers join, Low-Carbon Beef will become a milestone in the transition toward low-climate-impact livestock farming, directly contributing to Brazil’s decarbonization goals under the Paris Agreement.
About Embrapa
The Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) is an international reference in innovation and technology for responsible agriculture. As a public company, its mission is to serve society—directly and indirectly across diverse audiences—and contribute to building a sustainable, science-based future.
About MBRF
MBRF is one of the world’s largest food companies, operating in 117 countries with a multiprotein portfolio that includes beef, pork, and poultry, as well as processed products, ready-made meals, and pet food. With strong and iconic brands such as Sadia, Perdigão, Sadia Bassi, Perdigão Montana, Perdigão na Brasa, Qualy, Banvit, and Paty, the company has 130,000 employees worldwide and produces around 8 million tons of food per year, serving more than 425,000 clients and millions of consumers globally. MBRF combines expertise, innovation, and efficiency in a fully integrated platform guided by simplicity, excellence, and sustainable practices. The company closely follows consumer trends and habits to offer the most complete portfolio in the market—with quality, competitiveness, and social and environmental responsibility.