Local producers, state government officials and civil society representatives signed a joint memorandum of understanding (MoU) to implement the strategy locally through inclusive and profitable low-carbon agricultural and livestock production. The signing followed 12 months of engagement with local stakeholders, led by IDH in partnership with Clube Amigos da Terra, CAT Sorriso and Natcap Soluções Sustentáveis.

In 2019, PCI entered a new phase with the creation of the PCI Institute, established by a state decree to articulate public and private actions and to attract resources to promote programs and projects related to the implementation of the strategy.

Engaging local players is critical for the PCI to be a success. The strategy is based on the needs of and opportunities for each region where partnerships for sustainable development will be constructed, with goals aligned to local social, cultural, and economic expectations. In Sorriso, the opportunities lie in the production of corn ethanol, solar energy, and fish farming, among others, as well as professional qualification, restoring permanent conservation areas and land regularization.

Otaviano Pivetta, Vice Governor of Mato Grosso, said that “A very important step has been taken in advancing the PCI State Strategy. Companies and family agricultural producers from Sorriso support the long-term vision for sustainable development, which is an important tool for social inclusion.”

Daniela Mariuzzo, Executive Director of IDH in Brazil, added that “Sorriso is already a consolidated model of high-performance agricultural production and it is acknowledged worldwide for volumes originating from grain and animal protein. We aim to support and provide the necessary tools for the different economic and social sectors in Sorriso can benefit from the long-term vision set by the PCI agenda, regarding land use and socio-economic inclusion.”

Meanwhile, the municipality Barra do Garças in Mato Grosso also took an important step toward inclusive and sustainable production. IDH, The Municipal Council, Municipal Chamber, the PCI and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) signed a letter of intent outlining a common vision on sustainable development in sectors including agriculture-livestock-forest integration, renewable energy production and tourism.

The letter was signed on 26 April at the Municipal Chamber in Barra do Garças. It was supported by companies, farmers’ associations, banks, entities, and public bodies.

 

Impact:

Around 75,000 hectares of soybean were certified with the Round Table Responsible Soy (RTRS) certification, changing the lives of several farmers (as brought up by CAT Sorriso). The aim would be to continue the sustainable production path. Furthermore, other next steps would be to elaborate the investment portfolio. This is based on goals agreed by supporters, attracting financial resources for the recovery plan for permanent preservation areas (APPS) and providing support to smallholder farmers. Once the implementation of the program starts, social, environmental, and economic indicators and the development of goals agreed by the company will be made public.