Amazon Soy Moratorium Fails. Deforestation Surges.

A landmark agreement to stop deforestation in the Amazon has failed. The Amazon Soy Moratorium, a 20-year-old pledge by global grain traders to refuse soy grown on newly cleared rainforest land, has been unable to prevent a sharp rise in tree loss. Scientists report in the July 2026 issue of *Science* that deforestation rates linked to soy production have surged, reversing years of progress. The moratorium, once hailed as a model for corporate conservation, relied on voluntary compliance. Researchers found that loopholes and weak enforcement allowed farmers to bypass the rules, clearing land for other crops before planting soy. The findings signal that voluntary pledges alone cannot protect critical ecosystems.