Taking on Cargill: Beka’s powerful story

October 30, 2024
Cargill might not be a household name, but its reach is massive. Cargill is one of the biggest drivers of forest destruction in the Amazon and across South America. Read about Indigenous land defender Beka's story.

Dear Friend,

I’ve got something big weighing on my mind lately, and I need to share it with you. In my years of fighting to protect our planet, I’ve seen my fair share of challenges – but nothing quite like the battle we’re in right now, taking on Cargill, the world’s biggest and most powerful agribusiness giant.

Cargill might not be a household name, but its reach is massive. Make no mistake—its business is one of the biggest drivers of forest destruction in the Amazon and across South America.

The agribusiness behemoth has been around for 155 years, pulling the strings in the world’s grain, palm oil, and livestock markets. But behind that big-money empire lies a much darker legacy. We’re talking about environmental wreckage and human rights violations – from mass deforestation to exploiting child workers under brutal conditions. For the people on the frontlines of this destruction, it’s not just a corporate scandal; it’s personal. Every tree cut and every childhood lost to this machine is a devastating loss.

But among this devastation, there is fierce determination.

Let me introduce you to someone on the frontlines who inspires me every single day: Beka Munduruku, a 21-year-old Indigenous leader from the remote Sawre Muybu village deep in the Brazilian Amazon. Beka’s courage and determination are truly extraordinary. We brought her 4,000 miles to the U.S. with one mission – to look the Cargill family in the face and hold them accountable for what they’re doing to her people and her land.

Beka’s Story

Taking on Cargill: Beka’s powerful story

Her visit was nothing short of historic – the first time a Brazilian Indigenous leader stood up to Cargill right on their own turf, calling them out for the deforestation and human rights abuses they promised to stop but still fuel. But when she arrived with us at their fancy headquarters in Wayzata, Minnesota, she wasn’t greeted with respect. No, she was met by security guards in the parking lot and turned away. That’s right, the Cargill’s wouldn’t even face her, refusing to meet despite her numerous requests. ????

Working with Beka, bringing her to Minnesota, and witnessing her sheer bravery hit me hard. Her people are staring down immense threats as Cargill pushes deeper into the Amazon, with schemes like the Ferrogrão railway – a 1,000-kilometer scar that would rip right through Indigenous lands, hauling soy from Brazil’s rapidly vanishing Cerrado. This place is one of the most vital ecosystems on the planet, and it’s disappearing at an outrageous pace – 8,000 acres every single day.

But we’re just getting started.

The Cargill family? They’ve got more billionaires than any other family on the planet! Yet most people have no idea who they are or what they’re up to because they hide behind their anonymity. And that’s exactly where we’re going to focus our energy.

The Cargill family has no idea what’s coming. We won’t fade into the background. They’ll hear from us again – and this time, it’ll be even louder.

This fight isn’t just about saving Beka’s home, her people, and their land. It’s about protecting the Amazon and forests across South America, – taking on corporate power to fight for a better future for all of us. That’s why I joined Stand.earth, and it’s why I’m so proud of the work we’re doing together.

Beka’s story is just one of many that deserves to be heard. I hope you take a moment to read it in full. It’s absolutely powerful.

Thank you for standing with us on this journey. There’s so much more to uncover in this dark legacy, and trust me – you’ll be hearing from me again soon.

In solidarity,

Matt Jacobson (he/him)
Cargill Campaign Director
Stand.earth