Swiss commodity traders control 2.7 million hectares of land yet fail to take sufficient responsibility for human rights & environment, research alleges
In December 2021, non-profit organisation Public Eye released new research alleging that Swiss-based commodity traders, together owning over 550 plantations across the world on at least 2.7 million hectares, fail to take sufficient responsibility for human rights and environmental abuses on their landownings, including evictions, labour abuse, and deforestation.
Through ten case studies, presented on an interactive online platform, Public Eye named agricultural traders Archer Daniels Midland, Bunge, Cargill, COFCO International, Chiquita, ECOM Agroindustrial, Louis Dreyfus Company, Neumann Kaffee Gruppe, Olam, Raízen, Socfin, Sucafina, Sucocítrico Cutrale, and Viterra in its research.
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited all of the named commodity firms to comment on the allegations. Bunge, Cargill, COFCO International, ECOM Agroindustrial, Louis Dreyfus Company, Neumann Kaffee Gruppe, Olam, Raízen, Sucafina, and Viterra responded. Archer Daniels Midland, Chiquita, Socfin, and Sucocítrico Cutrale did not respond.
All response statements are available below.