“Farm linked to slave labor supplied tallow to Saudi oil giant”, 24 July 2025

The Saudi Oil Giant Aramco acquired bovine tallow from a Brazilian meatpacker connected to a farm where authorities identified slave-like labor conditions. The exports came from a facility operated by Minerva Foods—one of Brazil’s largest meat exporters—and were sent to Aramco Americas, the company’s U.S. subsidiary. The animal fat, used in biodiesel production, was shipped in 2023 and 2024, according to customs records obtained by Repórter Brasil.

In July 2023, Brazil’s Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE) rescued 13 workers from slave-like conditions on Lagoa do Leite Farm in Trombas, Goiás state. Inspectors reported that workers were sleeping in camping tents inside a shed that also served as a pesticide storage area. There were no bathrooms, no formal contracts, and no protective equipment. Their work was to build a house for the farm owner, according to the rescue operation report. The farmer was added to Brazil’s “Dirty List” of slave labor offenders in April 2025.

Roughly eight months after the rescue—and prior to the Dirty List inclusion—in February 2024, the same farm sold cattle for slaughter to Minerva’s facility in Palmeiras de Goiás, according to animal transport documents reviewed by the investigation. This is the same facility that shipped tallow to Aramco.

Aramco ranked first in Statista’s 2024 list of the world’s largest oil companies by production volume. Its subsidiary Aramco Americas focuses primarily on technology development and operates three research centers in the U.S. In December 2024, Aramco announced a joint study with France’s Total Energies to evaluate the feasibility of a biofuel plant for aviation in Saudi Arabia. The study includes the use of animal fats as feedstock—the same type of material exported from Brazil to Aramco.

…Repórter Brasil contacted Aramco by email, but the company did not respond before publication. We remain available for future statements or clarifications.

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Diamond Green Diesel (DGD), a leading U.S. producer of diesel from renewable sources, also purchased beef tallow from Minerva, according to customs records.

In July 2022, seven men and one woman were rescued from slave-like conditions at Alto Guaporé Farm in Vila Bela da Santíssima Trindade, Mato Grosso State, according to labor inspectors. The workers were living in camping tents under a fig tree, without access to drinking water, and used a hole in the ground as a toilet. The property was added to the Dirty List in October 2024.

When contacted, Minerva Foods stated that the farm had no environmental or social liabilities at the time of the commercial relationship. The company said it immediately blocks suppliers once they are added to the Dirty List and monitors 100% of its direct suppliers, with external audits of its socio-environmental protocols. For indirect suppliers, Minerva said it uses specialized tech tools and works to remediate properties found to be non-compliant.

…Another case involves Santo Antônio Farm (also known as Angical), inspected in 2022 by the Labor Ministry, where four workers were rescued from conditions analogous to slavery. Inspectors reported the workers were indebted to the employer and lived in makeshift tents, with no bathroom, kitchen, or running water. “It was a place completely unfit for human habitation,” states the inspection report. The owner, Antônio de Pádua Ferreira de Barros, was added to the Dirty List in April 2023.

…DGD is a joint venture between U.S. refiner Valero Energy and multinational Darling Ingredients. In 2022, Darling acquired Brazil’s Fasa Group, which processes meat industry and operates in the Amazon region, including the Araguaia unit.

…Boi Brasil, Fasa Group, and DGD were contacted by phone and email for comment but did not respond before publication. The space remains open for future comment.