Brazil is one of the world’s largest soybean producers, with Mato Grosso standing as the country’s leading soybean-producing state and the largest cattle herd in Brazil. Its western region concentrates some of the country’s highest soybean production areas and has also experienced recent conversion of native vegetation within the Cerrado biome — South America’s second largest biome.

In addition to soy, the region hosts significant cattle production, making livestock a key driver of land use and an essential component of local economies and supply chains.

The Western Mato Grosso Landscape Initiative (WMT) brings together a consortium of institutions — including IPAM, PCI Institute, Produzindo Certo and Proforest — to implement the state-level PCI (Produce, Conserve and Include) strategy at the sub-regional level, while scaling up a more sustainable soy production model and promoting improved practices in cattle production systems.

The initiative covers six municipalities — Sapezal, Campo Novo do Parecis, Campos de Júlio, Tangará da Serra, Diamantino and Alto Paraguai — which together account for approximately 4.3% of Brazil’s soybean production (around 5 million tons per year, based on 2020 data). These municipalities also maintain a substantial cattle herd, responsible for approximately 3% of Mato Grosso’s total cattle herd (based on 2024 data). The region has been prioritised by key sectoral initiatives aimed at eliminating deforestation from soy supply chains, including the Soft Commodities Forum (SCF) and the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) Forest Positive Coalition (FPC). Alongside the Land Innovation Fund (LIF), members of these initiatives support and fund activities within the landscape.

This landscape-scale initiative combines robust local governance, conservation and restoration of forests and natural ecosystems, and the inclusion of Indigenous Peoples, local communities and smallholders, while promoting responsible and sustainable agricultural production in one of Latin America’s most strategic regions.

The initiative is part of the portfolio of landscapes supported by members of the CGF Forest Positive Coalition of Action.

More information available here: Consórcio Oeste de Mato Grosso – Iniciativa de Paisagem do Oeste de Mato Grosso. Onde produzir, conservar e incluir caminham juntos.