SLC Agrícola, one of Brazil's leading agricultural commodity producers, has reached a strategic milestone in its livestock operations by earning, for the first time, the FairFood Animal Welfare certification for its beef cattle. The announcement was made during the 2026 Livestock Summit, held on April 8 and 9 in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso. Organized by SLC Agrícola, the event brought together industry leaders, experts, and partners to discuss the future and innovation in the sector.
Pantanal I and Planalto (MS) farms were awarded the certification, which is valid for one year and audited by an independent third party. This certification guarantees that production adheres to the highest ethical and animal welfare standards. The FairFood seal promotes traceability and alignment with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, meeting the growing demand from Brazilian consumers for products sourced from operations that respect animal welfare.
"This certification demonstrates our ongoing commitment to advancing livestock operations within the Company. We recognize livestock as a key pillar of our operations, with a steadfast focus on sustainability, efficiency, and innovation," said Aurélio Pavinato, CEO of SLC Agrícola, during his opening remarks.
Operational Performance and Growth of the CLI Model
This certification comes at a pivotal time for the Company's livestock operations, which saw significant growth in 2025. According to SLC Agrícola's 2025 Integrated Report, the Company's cattle herd increased from 42,621 head in 2024 to 63,480 animals marketed in the most recent cycle. This volume resulted in revenue of R$383.8 million for the Cattle Herd segment, an increase of 89.8% compared to the previous year.
The operation is carried out on seven farms in the states of Mato Grosso (Paiaguás, Perdizes, Pampeira, Planorte, and Pioneira) and Mato Grosso do Sul (Pantanal and Planalto), using production systems that increase efficiency per hectare, with responsibility:
- Crop-Livestock Integration (CLI): occupies 5,594 hectares (an increase of 33%) and houses 13,854 animals. The system is a pillar of regenerative agriculture, promoting nutrient recycling and the use of leftover forage from crops such as corn for animal feed.
- Intensive Pasture Finishing (TIP): adopted on 5,298 hectares, maintaining 38,365 animals. The system focuses on rapid weight gain and reduction of slaughter time through high-quality pastures and managed supplementation.
- Confinement: responsible for the finishing of 25,118 animals, this system ensures strict nutritional control and greater predictability to meet the requirements of certified meat processors.
Stringent Supply Chain Management
To uphold this growth with integrity and transparency, the Company enforces rigorous standards in its supplier approval process for cattle procurement, serving as a prerequisite before any commercial relationship is established. This process includes technical assessments and georeferenced evaluations to ensure that livestock are not sourced from areas affected by illegal deforestation, invaded indigenous lands, or properties embargoed by regulatory authorities. In the past year, 258 properties were evaluated under these criteria, reinforcing the Company's commitment to a responsible supply chain aligned with compliance and sustainability guidelines.
In terms of internal management, SLC Agrícola adopts practices aligned with the best technical recommendations of modern livestock farming, with ongoing attention to animal welfare, herd health, and the responsible execution of activities, ensuring proper management conditions throughout the entire production cycle.
Innovation and a Vision for the Future
The 2026 Livestock Meeting also promoted technical discussions on market intelligence, cost management, and carbon projects. The participants conducted a technical visit to the Marfrig meatpacking plant to learn about the requirements of the production chain and value creation. For the next cycle, SLC Agrícola has designated the Pioneira (MT) farm as the venue for the meeting in April 2027, maintaining the focus on knowledge exchange and continuous improvement in management practices.