For every EU and UK resident, around 61 kilograms of soybeans are consumed annually, he explained in a recently published report Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF). According to him, by consuming this plant, Europeans contributed to the deforestation of the Amazon, because most of the soybean imports came from South America, especially Brazil and Argentina.

“Most of the soybeans used in Europe come from South America and are grown in abundance in areas of the deforested Amazon and other forests converted to agricultural land,” said WWF. “Thus, Europeans are, unwittingly, contributing to the deforestation of the world,” the fund added. According to him, soybean production at the world level has doubled in twenty years and continues to increase. According to WWF, the cultivation of these crops is the main force behind the destruction of ecosystems through deforestation.

According to WWF statistics, based on 2020 data, Europeans indirectly consume the most soybeans. About 90 percent of imported soybeans are used as animal feed. Statistics also show that two years ago, Europeans consumed an average of 237 eggs, 117 kilograms of dairy products or 58 kilograms of meat.

Restrictions on imports of products whose production is linked to planetary deforestation were also proposed by the European Commission last year. As part of his climate-friendly policy plan, he intends for importers to, among other things, demonstrate that their products are not grown on newly deforested land. The requirements are intended to cover soy, beef, palm oil, timber, coffee, cocoa and some related products such as leather, chocolate and furniture.