Published to coincide with World Environment Day, the dossier Amazzonia nel piatto explains how the largest tropical forest on the planet is threatened by the cultivation of a legume once known only in Asia, which today is grown, for the most part, as animal feed.

On one hand, there is the constant growth of the area under soy cultivation, which now covers more than 1 million square kilometres: almost the entirety of northern Europe (France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands combined). Production that has seen an increase of 123% in some South American countries in less than ten years.

"Soy production is the leading cause of deforestation in the Amazon, alongside the expansion of pastures for farmed livestock, fires, legal and illegal logging, the construction of paved roads and the degradation caused by ongoing climate change," says Eva Alessi, WWF's sustainability manager. "The complex of causes underlying forest loss is therefore connected to land ownership, crime (direct or through money laundering), poverty and population growth."

On the other hand, there is the end use of this high-protein bean: WWF estimates that only 6 per cent of all global production is destined for human consumption, while 76 per cent is used for animal feed. Poultry, pork and eggs that end up on our plates every day.

Soy is devouring the Amazon

The figures cited in the report are alarming. "Every year, more than 1.5 million hectares are destroyed in the Amazon region, to which must be added the very serious problem connected to the degradation of the forest itself," explains Eva Alessi. Until a few years ago the Amazon region was considered unsuitable; today, thanks to crop selection, production has become viable even in these territories: the forest is felled to make way for soy and livestock farming. And demand shows no sign of abating: of the 270 million tonnes produced in 2012, 93 per cent comes from Brazil, the United States, Argentina, China, India and Paraguay, while the main importers remain China and Europe. The higher the demand, the more land will need to be cultivated: in total, the area of land in South America dedicated to soy grew from 19 million hectares in 1990 to 46 million in 2010.

"Soy production has therefore been identified as a fundamental cause of forest conversion, primarily in Brazil and Bolivia. Added to this, the external impacts of soy production, such as the pollution of waterways by agrochemicals and soil erosion, have also had an impact on natural ecosystems," underlines Eva Alessi.

How much soy is on our plate?

According to the dossier, for every kilogram of animal product, between 150 and 500 grams of soy are used, while it is precisely the rise in meat consumption in developing countries that is the main cause of the constant increase in production. Between 1967 and 2007, pork production increased by 294 per cent, egg production by 353 per cent, while poultry increased by 711 per cent.

WWF's proposals

According to the NGO, it is essential that producers and consumers work together to create a sustainable supply chain. Producing soy without destroying one of the world's treasure troves of biodiversity is possible: on one hand, by working towards a soy certification process that provides for the protection of agricultural areas and the communities living there.

On the other hand, consumers are called upon to become more aware: to reduce their consumption of meat, dairy products and eggs so as to cut demand for animal feed, to avoid waste in their own pantries by consuming only what is necessary, and to call loudly for a clear commitment from producing companies.

"We urgently need to produce soy in a more responsible way," concludes Alessi, "or these natural ecosystems of extraordinary importance could be lost forever, along with the priceless biodiversity they harbour and the vital services they provide. We all have a responsibility and a role to play in helping to reduce the negative environmental impacts of soy production."