JBS and the True Cost of Factory Farming: Why Africa Should Pay Attention

As JBS prepares for its Annual General Meeting, the spotlight will be on profits, growth, and expansion. That is what investors see.

But behind those numbers is something else.

A system that is shaping how food is produced globally, and increasingly influencing where that system expands next.

Africa is part of that conversation.

The scale is hard to ignore

JBS is not just a large company. It is the largest meat processing company in the world.

• Operating in 20 countries
• Products sold in over 100 countries
• Generating roughly $77 billion in annual revenue

Every single day, its operations have the capacity to slaughter:

• 13 million chickens
• 128,000 pigs
• 77,000 cows

Take a moment with those numbers.

This is not just food production.

This is industrial scale at its extreme.

The system behind the profits

Factory farming is often described as efficient.

Produce more. Faster. At lower cost.

But that efficiency depends on a system where animals are treated as inputs, not living beings.

High-density confinement. Rapid growth cycles. Standardised production.

This is not a broken system. It is working exactly as designed.

And companies like JBS are driving that model forward, expanding it across regions and markets.

A climate crisis in motion

The impact does not stop at animals.

JBS’s pig and chicken production alone generates emissions equivalent to 14 million cars on the road every year.

That is just part of the picture.

Investigations have repeatedly linked JBS supply chains to deforestation in the Amazon, even after public commitments to stop it.

Forests are cleared. Land is converted. Systems expand.

And the consequences are already visible, from biodiversity loss to climate instability.

At this scale, environmental damage is not a side effect. It is built into the system.

More than an environmental issue

There is another layer that often gets less attention.

Industrial livestock systems are associated with:

• Increased risk of zoonotic diseases
• Overuse of antibiotics, contributing to antimicrobial resistance
• Pollution affecting surrounding communities

These risks are not isolated.

They grow as the system scales.

A pattern that raises questions

JBS has also faced repeated scrutiny beyond environmental impact.

• Investigations suggest the company may have avoided between $221 million and $442 million in taxes across multiple countries
• It has been linked to greenwashing claims, including its “Net Zero by 2040” messaging
• Legal and labour concerns, including violations and settlements, have also been documented

Taken together, this points to a pattern.

Not just of scale, but of risk.

Why this matters for Africa

This is where the conversation becomes urgent.

Africa is increasingly being positioned as a growth market for industrial livestock production.

We are already seeing signals of this shift. In 2024, 20 Nigerian civil society organisations mobilised against a proposed agreement involving JBS, warning of its potential impact on food systems and local livelihoods.

That moment matters.

Because it shows this is not theoretical.
It is already happening.

What is at stake

If this model expands unchecked, the consequences could include:

• Increased pressure on smallholder farmers, who already feed large parts of the continent
• Greater environmental strain on land and water systems
• Reduced resilience in local food systems
• Increased dependence on industrial supply chains

Africa is not a testing ground for systems that are already showing their limits elsewhere

The investment question

As JBS meets with its shareholders, decisions will be made about growth, expansion, and future direction.

But those decisions are not just financial.

They shape systems.

They determine what gets funded, what gets scaled, and what becomes normal.

So the real question is not just about returns.

It is about what kind of food future those investments are building.

A different path is possible

There is another way forward.

Food systems that:

• Support smallholder farmers
• Protect animal welfare
• Work within environmental limits
• Strengthen local economies

This is what a just transition looks like.

Not less ambition.
Better direction.

This moment matters

The JBS Annual General Meeting is more than a corporate milestone.

It is a moment of visibility.

A moment to ask harder questions about what lies behind the numbers.

Because the true cost is not reflected in profit margins.

It is reflected in ecosystems under pressure, communities adapting to change, and systems that prioritise scale over sustainability.

Africa deserves better

Africa’s future should not be shaped by models that prioritise profit over resilience.

It should be built on systems that protect people, animals, and the planet.

Learn more and be part of the shift.

FAQs

1. What is JBS and why is it significant?

JBS is the largest meat processing company globally, with operations that influence how food systems are structured and expanded worldwide.

2. What is factory farming?

Factory farming refers to large-scale livestock systems designed for high output, often involving intensive production methods and confined conditions.

3. How does factory farming affect the environment?

It contributes to emissions, deforestation, land use change, and pressure on water systems, especially at industrial scale.

4. Why is this relevant to Africa?

Africa is increasingly targeted for expansion of industrial livestock systems, which could affect farmers, ecosystems, and food system resilience.

5. What is a just transition in food systems?

A just transition focuses on shifting towards sustainable, equitable food systems that support livelihoods while protecting animals and the environment.