“Into the forest” Conference

The Conference

International experts, academics, businesses and forest advocates have come together to pursue a better future for forests.

The 2025 Sustainability Conference of the Jerónimo Martins Group aims to explore the vital role forests play in sustaining biodiversity, regulating the climate, and supporting the food systems we rely on.

Why Forests Matter

Forests are among the most vital ecosystems on Earth. They cover nearly a third of the planet’s land surface and are home to over 80% of terrestrial species. Forests help regulate the climate, purify the air and water, prevent soil erosion, and provide livelihoods for millions of people. They are essential for biodiversity, carbon storage, and the overall health of our planet.

However, forests are under increasing threat. Unregulated deforestation and degradation — driven by unsustainable agricultural practices, logging or urban expansion — are destroying habitats, displacing communities and compromising the resilience of food systems.

For those reasons, the 12th Sustainability Conference of Jerónimo Martins was dedicated to forests, bringing together voices from science, business, and civil society to explore how we can protect and restore forests for a sustainable future.

Speakers

Stefano Mancuso

International Laboratory of Plant Neurobiology, University of Florence

Michał Jerzy Zasada

Warsaw University of Life Sciences

Mark J. Plotkin

President of the Amazon Conservation Team

Fernanda Xavier

IPAM - Amazon Environmental Research Institute

Didier Bergeret

The Consumer Goods Forum

Manuel Alberto Davila

Managing Director DAABON EU & UK

Silvia Castro-Torres

Deputy Director – Landscapes & Collaboration, Proforest

Luís Paulo Costa

Mayor of the Arganil Municipality

Nick Dornheim

EuroCommerce

Daniel Aristizabal

Amazon Conservation Team Colombia

Pedro Mendonça Pinto

Host

Camilo Gómez

Supply Chain Manager at Café&Co

Erez Boniel

CEO of Ecowipes

Iwona Łagodzińska

CEO of Terravita

Pedro Encarnação

CEO of Seaculture

José Fraga

CEO of Best Farmer

The Programme

Opening remarks

Pedro Soares dos Santos, Chairman & CEO of the Jerónimo Martins Group

Green intelligence

Stefano Mancuso, International Laboratory of Plant Neurobiology, University of Florence

Farming with trees

Michał Jerzy Zasada, Rector of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences

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Reborning from the ashes:
Serra do Açor Project, Portugal

Luís Paulo Costa, Mayor of the Arganil Municipality

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Working with communities on the landscape:
Western Mato Grosso Project, Brazil

Fernanda Xavier, IPAM – Amazon Environmental Research Institute

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Insights on the EU Deforestation Regulation

Nick Dornheim, EuroCommerce

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Beyond regulation: the power of collective action

Silvia Castro-Torres, Proforest

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Knowing the supply chains better: the role of certification

Didier Bergeret, The Consumer Goods Forum

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Forests as sources of raw materials
· Animal protein & soy

Pedro Encarnação, Seaculture
José Fraga, Best Farmer
moderated by Filipe Canas da Silva, Pingo Doce

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Forests as sources of raw materials
· Paper / timber & cocoa

Erez Boniel, Ecowipes
Iwona Łagodzińska, Terravita
moderated by Grzegorz Pytko, Biedronka

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Forests as sources of raw materials
· Coffee & palm oil
Camilo Gomez, Café & Co.
Manuel Alberto Davila, Daabon
moderated by Juan Camilo Dueñas, Ara
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Living in the forest: Amazónia viva

Mark Plotkin, President of the Amazon Conservation Team
Daniel Aristizabal, Amazon Conservation Team Colombia

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About the Jerónimo Martins Group

Jerónimo Martins is an international Group based in Portugal, with over 230 years of experience in the food business. We serve millions of consumers daily, offering quality food at competitive prices.

Our commitment to responsible business practices has earned us global recognition — including listings on over 140 international sustainability indices and becoming one of the food retailers with the highest score worldwide on CDP Forests, for all four evaluated commodities, reflecting our efforts to protect and promote sustainable forest management across our value chain.