By Gift Briton
The expansion of JBS, one of the world’s largest food companies, into Nigeria has been met with mixed reactions. Animal welfare activists have expressed concern over potential environmental and animal welfare issues.
On 21st November 2024, Brazillian meat producers signed a memorandum of understanding worth $2.5 billion with the Nigerian Government. The agreement outlines the construction of six plants—three for poultry, two for beef, and one for pork.
While the company hopes this move will boost local food security and create sustainable production chains, World Animal Protection, a leading animal welfare organization, is particularly concerned about JBS’ factory farming practices.
According to the organization, JBS’ expansion will result in animals being subjected to deplorable living conditions, including cramped spaces and lacking basic needs like movement and social interaction.
It argues that JBS’ announcement to build six factories in Nigeria could lead to the mass exploitation of animals.
Factory farming is known for the mass production of poultry, beef, and pork under conditions that many consider inhumane. Activists now warn that this expansion could worsen the harmful impacts of factory farming on the continent.
World Animal Protection has also raised alarms about the environmental impact of the company’s expansion. The organization claims that the factory farming model is associated with high carbon emissions, which could worsen Africa’s climate crisis and jeopardize its commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement.
“Food sovereignty is a critical issue in Nigeria and Africa at large. It is essential that local communities have control over their food systems, ensuring that they can produce food sustainably and withstand global market fluctuations. JBS’s factory farming model conflicts with this vision, as it prioritizes profit over the welfare of animals, people and the environment,” Tennyson Williams, the Director for Africa at World Animal Protection.
To truly tackle food insecurity, the organization advocates for a shift towards sustainable food systems that prioritize humane practices. Instead of factory farming, they propose providing technical assistance, access to markets, and resources to local farmers to ensure food security more ethically and sustainably.
“Nigeria can ensure food security without relying on large-scale, profit-driven factory-farming practices disguised as food security and job creation opportunities. Indigenous food systems, which are less resource-intensive, can help address hunger while minimizing environmental damage,” World Animal Protection noted in a statement.
To promote long-term sustainability, the organization calls for the creation of green jobs in agriculture. The organization notes that practices like agroforestry, organic farming, and eco-tourism could offer new employment opportunities while also protecting the environment, creating a more sustainable future for Nigeria.
