• With this strategic project, the partners reinforce their commitment to decarbonization and sustainable agriculture in Brazil.
• The ALM Carbono Verde do Araguaia project re-enforces the strategic commitment to decarbonization and support for Brazilian livestock farming and aims to promote sustainable practices.
• Cattle ranchers will be encouraged to adopt best practices aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving soil health and increasing carbon capture.

OCP Group, the world leader in plant nutrition solutions and phosphate-based fertilizers – through OCP Brasil, subsidiary of OCP Nutricrops – and Ambipar, a global leader in environmental management, announce the ALM Green Carbon of Araguaia project, in partnership with Liga do Araguaia and Instituto Agroambiental do Vale do Araguaia (IAVA), two local organizations focused on sustainable rural development in the Araguaia Valley.

The project aims to restore up to 100,000 hectares of degraded pastures in the Araguaia Valley, in Central-West Brazil, and generate high-integrity carbon credits, through the adoption of sustainable practices (Agricultural Land Management – ALM). The Araguaia Valley is in Cerrado, one of the world’s most diverse biomes – it covers more than 20% of Brazil’s landmass and is home to thousands of plant and animal species.

In the first three years, the project foresees the restoration of up to 80,000 hectares on approximately 60 farms, while the second phase expands the scope to a total of 100,000 hectares. The project has a duration of 50 years, with the first carbon credit issuance expected to occur within 3 to 5 years.

“As a champion for soil health, the initiative aligns closely with OCP’s mission of achieving a sustainable future by feeding the soil to feed the world. The project will see the restoration of up to 100,000 hectares of degraded pasturelands in Brazil, a country of strategic importance for global food security. This partnership re-enforces OCP’s commitment to strengthen food security, highlighting how proper fertilizer management can mitigate and reverse the consequences of climate change and nature loss in regions such as the Araguaia Valley.” Naoufal Mahdar, Senior VP Decarbonization & Climate Action at Corporate Sustainability & Innovation Office – OCP Group.

The ALM Carbono Verde Araguaia project will follow a scientific, structured approach to achieve its goals, involving:

• Raising awareness among the local communities regarding the importance of sustainable agricultural practices;
• Recruiting cattle ranchers committed to carbon farming and sustainable soil management;
• Collecting soil samples to assess current carbon levels;
• Training for cattle ranchers on soil health, sustainability, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

For Ambipar, a company with extensive expertise in projects of this nature, initiatives like this are essential to accelerate the decarbonization of global economies, connecting companies and institutions that lead this agenda.

“Ambipar reaffirms its leading role in the construction of high-impact environmental solutions. This new partnership represents a milestone in the integration between environmental conservation, territorial development and carbon credit generation. We are structuring a traceable production chain, which promotes food security, values local assets and generates climate, social and economic benefits. This is how we deliver scalable, longlasting and replicable solutions for Brazil and the world”, highlights Soraya Pires, Global Head of Carbon Solutions at Ambipar.

This action plan will encourage cattle ranchers to adopt best practices aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving soil health and increasing carbon capture, such as:

• Management of cover crops;
• Efficient application of fertilizers, based on the 4R approach (right nutrient, right amount,right time, right place), and other inputs;
• Use of precision agriculture tools.

Progress will be closely monitored throughout the project: there will be technical field visits to monitor the implementation of the practices and thus maximize carbon capture and storage.

“The transformation of agriculture depends on the union of science, technology, and sustainable practices. This project was built on a previous OCP successful initiative on carbon farming in Brazil and greatly expands our contribution to strengthening livestock farming and decarbonizing the country. We believe in innovation as a driver of more efficient, nature positive agricultur” says Marcos Stelzer, CEO of OCP Brasil.

The wider adoption of sustainable practices aimed at improving soil health – including the proper handling of phosphorus, a vital nutrient for plant development – will enable the restoration of degraded areas, the increase in livestock production and the generation of high-quality carbon credits for the benefit of different stakeholders.

“The launch of the Araguaia Green Carbon Project, in partnership with Ambipar and OCP, and two groups of rural producers organized in a totally local and organic way, the Araguaia League and the Agroenvironmental Institute of the Araguaia Valley, marks a great joint effort to accelerate the adoption of new production practices and to scale new business models” says Braz Peres Neto, President of Liga do Araguaia.

“The Araguaia Valley of Goiás is a region that has traditionally been exploited by extensive cattle ranching, which has been causing, over time, the degradation of pasture areas. In recent years, the process of conversion of these degraded pastures into agricultural areas has begun in the region. I believe that the ALM Green Carbon project of Araguaia will be very important in this process of conversion of areas since it will disseminate regenerative management practices in the region that will contribute greatly to the sustainable development of the Valley” says Leonardo de Oliveira Gomes, President of Instituto Agroambiental do Vale do Araguaia (IAVA).

ALM refers to Agricultural Land Management, through the adoption of sustainable practices to increase farming productivity while protecting the environment and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions.

About participating companies

OCP Group

OCP Group helps feed a growing global population by providing the essential elements for soil fertility and plant growth. With over a century of expertise and a turnover of more than US$ 9 billion in 2024, OCP Group is the world leader in plant nutrition solutions and phosphate-based fertilizers. Headquartered in Morocco and present on five continents, OCP Group has over 17,000 employees and works with more than 350 customers around the world.

OCP Group recently launched a green investment strategy, dedicated to increasing fertilizer production and investing in renewable energy. The strategy foresees an overall investment of approximately US$ 13 billion over the period 2023-2027, enabling the Group to use 100% non-conventional water since early 2025 (ensuring full water autonomy, including a desalination capacity of 560 million m3 per year by 2027), 100% clean energy by 2027 and to achieve full carbon neutrality by 2040 (Scopes 1 and 2 by 2030, and Scope 3 by 2040), while increasing the production of green fertilizers.

The Group is firmly convinced that leadership and profitability go hand in hand with social responsibility and sustainable development. Its strategic vision is built on the synergy between these two dimensions.
For more news and information: www.ocpgroup.ma

OCP Nutricrops

OCP Nutricrops is a subsidiary of OCP Group, responsible for developing soil nutrition solutions to address global challenges in food production and sustainability. OCP Nutricrops provides farmers with a wide variety of high-quality, sustainably produced and customized phosphate-based soil health and plant nutrition solutions, and promotes the adoption of advanced agronomic practices, through collaboration with agronomists and experts across the world. OCP Nutricrops helps farmers access effective and sustainable products that are fine-tuned for the specific needs of their soils, whatever their crop choice and wherever they are in the world.

In addition to its in-house dedicated teams of agronomists, OCP Nutricrops draws on the expertise of Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) and its international partners, leveraging the latest technological advances and the most accurate agricultural data. Through advanced soil mapping and the creation of customized products, OCP Nutricrops promotes optimal soil health and helps farmers maximize their productivity while protecting the environment and combatting climate change.
For more information: www.ocpnutricrops.com

Ambipar

Ambipar is a global leader in environmental solutions, investing in and operating decarbonization, circular economy, energy transition, and environmental regeneration projects. Founded in 1995, the company operates in 41 countries with a broad portfolio of environmental services, particularly waste recovery and environmental emergency response.

A pioneer in a variety of products and services, it is a market leader in Research, Development, and Innovation (RD&I), with over 100 circular economy solutions, over 25 patents, and over 50 national and international innovation awards.

With over 23,000 employees worldwide and over 600 operational bases, the company is listed on the B3 and the New York Stock Exchange. Its performance is also recognized by Standard & Poor’s, which classified Ambipar shares as green stocks on the B3, the Brazilian stock exchange.
For more information, visit: ambipar.com

Liga do Araguaia

Liga do Araguaia is a regional movement founded in 2014 that brings together more than 60 cattle ranches in the Araguaia Valley region of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Its mission is to promote sustainable livestock practices that increase productivity and income, while respecting environmental legislation and natural ecosystems. The movement is based on the pillars of productivity, conservation, emissions reduction, animal welfare and tourism, and takes the form of implementing projects designed and developed in partnership with public and private, national and international organizations. The group plays a central role in implementing regenerative agricultural practices and is one of the main drivers of the region’s transition to low-carbon, high-efficiency livestock farming.

Instituto Agroambiental do Vale do Araguaia

The Instituto Agroambiental do Vale do Araguaia (IAVA) aims to promote a sustainable model of agricultural production based on a balance between economic performance, environmental responsibility, and positive social impact.

Its mission is to disseminate the adoption of sustainable practices among producers in the Araguaia Valley region, in Goiás, adding value to products and increasing market competitiveness.

The Institute’s activities include direct support to members in identifying and valuing environmental services, promoting regenerative agriculture practices, intensifying production combined with conservation, and adopting technologies that contribute to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

In addition, IAVA seeks to establish strategic partnerships with public and private entities, forming a network of technical and institutional support. Finally, the institute aims to foster the development of local leaders committed to the principles of sustainability that guide its activities.