COP30 Agriculture Pavilion Sponsored by Agribusiness Firms Linked to Deforestation
The Agrizone pavilion at the COP30 climate summit in Brazil is sponsored by major agribusiness entities, including pesticide giant Bayer and Brazilian lobby group Senar, despite allegations linking them to deforestation and anti-conservation efforts. Organized by Brazil’s agriculture agency Embrapa, the showcase has drawn criticism from environmental campaigners who argue these sponsors promote industrial agricultural models driving biodiversity loss and conflicts with Indigenous communities. Bayer, facing an OECD complaint regarding its operations in South America, paid significant fees for diamond-level sponsorship to gain visibility and improve its corporate image. Other sponsors include UPL, an Indian manufacturer supplying chemicals banned in the EU. Critics view this participation as a strategic effort by the agribusiness sector to greenwash its reputation while maintaining practices associated with high emissions and land clearance. The sponsorship deals, totaling millions of reais, provide these companies with branding opportunities and speaking slots, highlighting the substantial influence of agricultural lobbyists within the climate negotiations.
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COP30 Agriculture Pavilion Sponsored by Agribusiness Firms Linked to Deforestation
The Agrizone pavilion at the COP30 climate summit in Brazil is sponsored by major agribusiness entities, including pesticide giant Bayer and Brazilian lobby group Senar, despite allegations linking them to deforestation and anti-conservation efforts. Organized by Brazil’s agriculture agency Embrapa, the showcase has drawn criticism from environmental campaigners who argue these sponsors promote industrial agricultural models driving biodiversity loss and conflicts with Indigenous communities. Bayer, facing an OECD complaint regarding its operations in South America, paid significant fees for diamond-level sponsorship to gain visibility and improve its corporate image. Other sponsors include UPL, an Indian manufacturer supplying chemicals banned in the EU. Critics view this participation as a strategic effort by the agribusiness sector to greenwash its reputation while maintaining practices associated with high emissions and land clearance. The sponsorship deals, totaling millions of reais, provide these companies with branding opportunities and speaking slots, highlighting the substantial influence of agricultural lobbyists within the climate negotiations.
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