Mighty Earth is working to reduce the environmental impacts of meat across the United States, where the industry is the leading source of our nation’s water pollution, a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, and driving the destruction of our last remaining prairie. As public concern about meat’s impacts grows, we are holding leading food companies accountable for reducing the environmental consequences of their meat supply chains to prevent water pollution and protect our nation’s most iconic landscapes.
Reports
The Coronavirus Climate Profiteers
April 2020
Most people see a global pandemic that is killing tens of thousands of people. But many of the world’s worst polluting companies have used the crisis as an excuse to extract tens of billions of dollars in new government subsidies and slash environmental regulations. They are doing so in ways that will make people more vulnerable to coronavirus and increase the likelihood of future pandemics. A lot of people are understandably furious about small-time coronavirus grifters, like the guy hoarding Purell in his garage. That’s bad, but it’s nothing compared to the cynicism and public health hazards created by leading coronavirus profiteers and their enablers.
Read the full report here.
Cargill: The Worst Company in the World
July 2019
Report documents decades of bad acts by US-based agribusiness giant, Cargill, and highlights the need for urgent action.
Flunking the Planet
August 2018
This Mighty Earth report found widespread failure across the food industry to address the environmental impacts of the meat supply chain, and provides recommendations for how companies can improve.
Mystery Meat II
August 2017
The report identifies the companies responsible for the widespread manure and fertilizer pollution contaminating water from the Heartland to the Gulf. The vast quantities of corn and soy used to raise meat animals caused one of the largest Dead Zones on record in the Gulf of Mexico.
Updates
Statement on Cargill’s “Scaling Back” Russian Business
March 11, 2022
Cargill’s announcement today that it is “scaling back” its Russian business activities and stopping investment is a “step in the right direction.” Still, Cargill now needs to pull out entirely, according to Ukrainian and global conservation leaders.
Cargill’s Vague Plan to Address its Environmental Destruction Lacks Key Details
September 18, 2020
The action from Cargill follows a year of campaigning by Mighty Earth and communities across the American Midwest and South concerned about agricultural runoff pollution.
Stop Destroying the Planet & Shop Responsibly
May 26, 2020
Customers and other community members across Massachusetts have joined Mighty Earth’s call for Stop & Shop to environmental standards for their meat and to cut ties with Cargill.
In 2020, Retailers Must Stop Stocking Environmental Destruction
February 7, 2020
Supermarkets largely dictate the kinds of food that people have access to, and their buying decisions can therefore mean the difference between healthy ecosystems and ecological destruction.
Activists Stage Protest at Tyson Shareholder Meeting over Sustainability Concerns
February 6, 2020
Pressure is on for Tyson to abide by 2018 sustainability commitments
Mighty Earth endorses open letter to end child labor in US agriculture
January 29, 2020
Mighty Earth endorsed an open letter led by the Child Labor Coalition (CLC), of which we are a member, to end child labor in US agriculture.
Tyson: Keep Your Promise
January 15, 2020
Tyson Foods has a long track record as one of the most polluting companies in America. Overcoming this reputation will require transparency and clear evidence of verifiable changes that are reported to the public.
Groundbreaking Resolution Calling on NYC to Divest from Deforestation
November 21, 2019
Last week, City Council Members Costa Constantinides and Justin Brannan, in partnership with Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, introduced a new resolution to City Council that calls on corporate and government entities operating in the City of New York to divest from agricultural industries that benefit form deforestation and the acceleration of global warming.
NYC Activists call on Cargill to Stop the Amazon Fires & Embrace Regenerative Agriculture
October 11, 2019
Brands can continue sourcing from Cargill, or they can maintain a reputation as environmental leaders -- but they can't do both.
Deforestation Continues Because Companies Aren’t Trying
September 12, 2019
Nobody doing business with Cargill and JBS can credibly say they are concerned about deforestation
As Massive Dead Zone Blooms in Gulf, Hold Industrial Farming Companies Responsible
August 1, 2019
NOAA announced that scientists have determined that this year's Gulf of Mexico “dead zone” is 6,952 square miles, nearly the size of New Jersey.
Cargill Named “Worst Company in the World”
July 11, 2019
New report documents US-based agribusiness giant's "ineptitude and incoherence at a grand scale."
Meat Company Pollution to Blame for New, Near-Record “Dead Zone” Forecast
June 10, 2019
On the heels of the official NOAA forecast that predicts a near-record size “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico this summer, environmental campaign organization Mighty Earth is laying the blame at the feet of America’s biggest meat companies.
Analysis: Spring Floods Exacerbate Raw Sewage from Factory Farms Washing into Gulf of Mexico
June 6, 2019
Following the unprecedented climate-fueled flooding sweeping the Midwest this spring, Mighty Earth calculated approximately how much pollution was washing off industrial factory farms into American waterways, which companies are dumping the most, and where these companies are located relative to flood-prone regions of the country.
Despite Shareholder Concerns, Pilgrim’s Pride Turns a Blind Eye to Water Pollution … Again
May 1, 2019
Facing a third consecutive shareholder proposal aimed at mitigating water pollution, the largest poultry producer in America declines to improve on sustainability.
Whole Foods CEO John Mackey Stumbles on Sustainability
March 5, 2019
“It’s an impossible request…if we tried to do it we would ruin our business and go bankrupt.” That’s what Whole Foods CEO James Mackey said when asked how his company can address sustainability standards throughout its supply chain.
Mighty Earth Responds to Cargill’s Announcement of Revisions to Forests, Soy, and Human Rights Policies
February 21, 2019
"We are hopeful that we will be able to soon praise Cargill not just for promises, but for action."
Shareholders Push Tyson on Water Pollution
February 1, 2019
Tyson’s track record as one of the nation’s top water polluters is once again coming under fire from shareholders at the company’s annual meeting this year.
Global Investors Push Fast Food Giants to Cut Meat’s Environmental Impact
January 29, 2019
A coalition of more than 80 global investors representing more than $6.5 trillion has sent letters to six of the world’s largest fast food companies urging action to reduce environmental devastation caused by their meat.
Mighty Earth responds to Tyson Announcement of Partnership to Implement Sustainable Feed Sourcing Commitment
January 17, 2019
Nine months after announcing its commitment to improve sustainability practices for 2 million acres of its animal feed, Tyson has released details on how it will begin implementing this goal.
Thousands of Customers & Community Leaders Urge Whole Foods to Set Environmental Standards for Meat
December 6, 2018
Mighty Earth, a global environmental non-profit, delivered over 160,000 petitions to Whole Foods managers today in Austin TX; Chicago, IL; Fayetteville, AR; and Minneapolis, MN.
Webinar: How Companies Can Clean Up Their Meat Supply Chains
December 6, 2018
A discussion on environmental degradation caused by meat production across the United States, the key stakeholders impacted, and the solutions companies need to adopt to reduce the most urgent environmental and public health consequences of this supply chain.
McWholeFoods … We’re Not Loving It #CleanUpMeat
October 8, 2018
We need McDonald’s and Whole Foods to act because their biggest suppliers, Cargill and Tyson, are destroying wild forests and contaminating our water.
To-Do List for New Tyson CEO: Fulfill Sustainability Commitments
September 19, 2018
Stepping in as the new CEO of one of the world’s largest meat companies, Noel White will be faced with executing on Tyson’s widely applauded vision to become ‘the most sustainable protein company in the world.
Local residents gather to send Tyson Foods a message: “Don’t Tread on Tennessee”
August 13, 2018
Around 80 residents of Haywood County gathered at a town hall meeting this month to send a clear message to Tyson Foods: “Don’t Tread on Tennessee.”
Flunking the Planet: America’s Leading Food Companies Fail on Sustainable Meat
August 2, 2018
New report shows that Whole Foods, McDonald’s, Sodexo and other leading brands lack environmental standards for meat production, driving massive water pollution and climate emissions.
Whole Foods refuses to accept petitions over pollution by meat suppliers
May 17, 2018
A coalition of farmers, doctors and environmental leaders were shocked when Whole Foods management refused to accept delivery of 95,000 petition signatures tasking the company to hold its corporate meat suppliers accountable for the widespread water contamination caused by their irresponsible farming and waste management practices.
Tyson Responds to Environmental Campaign and Public Pressure, Addresses Pollution in Supply Chain
April 4, 2018
Responding to mounting pressure from local communities impacted by its pollution, investors, customers, and the environmental community, Tyson Foods has announced a commitment to improve farming practices on two million acres of grain by 2020.
Meat Feeling the Pressure to Reduce Impacts
April 3, 2018
In the past month, two of the world’s largest meat sellers announced commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their supply chains. Many of the practices driving the sector’s climate impacts are also causing widespread water contamination, particularly from excess manure and fertilizer pollution washing off fields that grow feed.
Controversy Erupts at Tyson Shareholder Meeting
February 8, 2018
Frustrated shareholders submitted a resolution at Tyson Foods’ annual meeting pushing Tyson to address the egregious pollution driven by the company’s operations and supply chain.
Experts Find Ocean Dead Zones Have Expanded 1000% Worldwide Since 1950
January 4, 2018
Reducing run-off pollution from industrial agriculture is urgently necessary to stop the rapid growth in oceanic Dead Zones that have expanded 10-fold around the world since 1950.
Rally at Tyson Headquarters- Activists Call on Tyson Foods to Live Up to Sustainability Promises
November 30, 2017
Today, 50 people gathered outside of Tyson Food’s Global Headquarters to deliver over 63 thousand petitions to the company’s CEO, Tom Hayes calling for adoption of more sustainable practices.
Mighty Earth: Victory on Chocolate; Intensifying Focus on Meat Industry
November 30, 2017
Mighty makes major progress towards transforming the chocolate and meat industries.
Local Groups Sign Open Letter Calling on Tyson CEO to Fulfill Sustainability Promises
November 2, 2017
Over 230 local business, farmer, environmental, and community groups from across the country have joined the nation-wide campaign to hold America’s largest meat company accountable for the water pollution affecting their communities.
#CleanItUpTyson campaign kicks off across the country
October 2, 2017
Last week, communities from Des Moines to New Orleans met in town halls across the country to build the call for Tyson’s CEO to #CleanItUpTyson. Community members gathered to share ideas and brainstorm strategies for urging America’s largest meat company to clean up pollution from its supply chain...
Mighty Earth partners with Green Corps to Clean Up America’s Meat
September 18, 2017
Tyson Foods needs to step up and make a clear commitment to cleaning up pollution from its meat that is contaminating waters across the country. That’s the core message that Green Corps organizers will be bringing to communities most affected by this pollution as part of Mighty Earth’s campaign for cleaner meat.
Mystery Meat II
August 3, 2017
Tyson Foods, America’s Largest Meat Company, Leads Those Found to be driving massive Manure and Fertilizer Pollution
A new report, released by Mighty Earth, identifies the companies responsible for the widespread manure and fertilizer pollution contaminating water from the Heartland to the Gulf.