Shining a Light on Big Ag’s Climate Push

About the Series

The agricultural sector — a key driver of global warming — is coming under increasing pressure to cut emissions. At the upcoming COP28 climate summit, powerful agricultural companies and country allies will be pushing for investment in high-tech farming innovations. But will the solutions they are cheerleading — from “greening cattle” to “carbon farming” — really address the climate crisis and world hunger?

In the lead-up to COP28, DeSmog will scrutinize the key actors including the U.S.- and UAE-led AIM for Climate coalition, whose partners include highly polluting companies with a commercial interest in business-as-usual. And explore what other motives may lie behind agribusiness’s embrace of the green agenda.

In This Series

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Meat and dairy groups have funded adverts that cast vegan products as unhealthy, unnatural and ultra processed.

Meat and dairy groups have funded adverts that cast vegan products as unhealthy, unnatural and ultra processed.

Producers say 'No Farmers, No Food' is a populist initiative that serves to “whip up indignation and anger”.

Producers say 'No Farmers, No Food' is a populist initiative that serves to “whip up indignation and anger”.
Analysis
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Big agriculture and far-right parties set farmers against the environment but producers on the ground in Brussels told a different story.

Big agriculture and far-right parties set farmers against the environment but producers on the ground in Brussels told a different story.
Opinion
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Big Ag lobbyists drowned out the voices of smallholder farmers.

Big Ag lobbyists drowned out the voices of smallholder farmers.

Major food and agriculture companies have sent 340 representatives to Dubai for the climate summit.

Major food and agriculture companies have sent 340 representatives to Dubai for the climate summit.

From ‘innovation sprints’ to spritzers, polluting agri-giants have so many ways to influence climate outcomes.

From ‘innovation sprints’ to spritzers, polluting agri-giants have so many ways to influence climate outcomes.
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Polluting livestock companies and lobby groups will target pavilions in a coordinated campaign at the UN climate summit, documents show.

Polluting livestock companies and lobby groups will target pavilions in a coordinated campaign at the UN climate summit, documents show.
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Research shows oil companies are investing heavily in petrochemicals for use in pesticides, fertilisers, and plastic packaging.

Research shows oil companies are investing heavily in petrochemicals for use in pesticides, fertilisers, and plastic packaging.
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We debunk some key concepts that the world’s largest food and farming companies will be using to sway debates at the climate summit.

We debunk some key concepts that the world’s largest food and farming companies will be using to sway debates at the climate summit.
Analysis
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An industry-led “efficiency” drive is about increasing sales of milk – not cutting pollution.

An industry-led “efficiency” drive is about increasing sales of milk – not cutting pollution.
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DeSmog to track the agriculture industry’s efforts to shape the agenda of the upcoming UAE COP28 summit.

DeSmog to track the agriculture industry’s efforts to shape the agenda of the upcoming UAE COP28 summit.

Campaigners warn of industrial farm lobby’s growing influence amid sharp rise in representatives attending UN climate talks in Egypt.

Campaigners warn of industrial farm lobby’s growing influence amid sharp rise in representatives attending UN climate talks in Egypt.
Analysis
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Campaigners see scant evidence that the Department of Agriculture is ready to break with its long history of promoting agribusiness at the expense of the environment.

Campaigners see scant evidence that the Department of Agriculture is ready to break with its long history of promoting agribusiness at the expense of the environment.
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Critics say the US-led AIM4C coalition will sideline nature-friendly farming in favour of a polluting status quo.

Critics say the US-led AIM4C coalition will sideline nature-friendly farming in favour of a polluting status quo.
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Campaigners question “knowledge partner” role for U.S. meat lobby group NAMI ahead of climate summit.

Campaigners question “knowledge partner” role for U.S. meat lobby group NAMI ahead of climate summit.