OCP Engages in Strategic Partnership to Restore 100,000 Hectares and Generate Carbon Credits in the Araguaia Valley

The OCP Group, a global leader in plant nutrition and phosphate fertilizers, through its subsidiary OCP Brasil, has partnered with Ambipar, a key player in environmental management, along with Liga do Araguaia and the Agro-Environmental Institute of the Araguaia Valley (IAVA). This collaboration aims to launch the ALM Carbono Verde do Araguaia project, which seeks to restore up to 100,000 hectares of degraded pastures in the Araguaia Valley, located in the Cerrado biome of central-western Brazil. The project will generate high-integrity carbon credits by adopting sustainable agricultural land management practices (ALM). The Cerrado is one of the most biodiverse biomes globally, covering over 20% of Brazil's territory. The first phase of the project will last three years and aims to restore nearly 80,000 hectares across approximately 60 farms, with plans to expand to 100,000 hectares in a second phase. The overall project is designed to span 50 years, with the first generation of carbon credits expected within 3 to 5 years. Naoufal Mahdar, Senior Vice President of Decarbonation & Climate Action at OCP's Sustainability & Innovation Office, stated, "As a committed player in soil health, this initiative aligns perfectly with our mission: to build a sustainable future by nourishing soils to feed the planet. Restoring degraded pastures in Brazil, a key country for global food security, demonstrates our commitment to sustainable productivity that respects climate and biodiversity. It also shows how responsible nutrient management can reverse the effects of climate change." The project will adopt a structured scientific approach to: - Raise awareness among local communities about sustainable agriculture. - Mobilize willing farmers around regenerative soil and carbon management. - Analyze soils to assess current organic carbon stocks. - Train farmers on soil health, sustainability, and greenhouse gas emission reduction. Ambipar, known for its expertise in conducting environmental projects, emphasizes that this initiative is crucial for accelerating global decarbonization. Soraya Pires, Global Director of Carbon Solutions at Ambipar, remarked, "Ambipar reaffirms its leadership in developing high-impact environmental solutions. This partnership represents an important step in articulating conservation, territorial development, and carbon credit generation. We are building a traceable production chain that promotes food security, values local resources, and generates climate, social, and economic benefits. This is how we contribute to sustainable, scalable, and replicable models for Brazil and beyond." Farmers will be encouraged to adopt best practices, including: - Cover crop management. - Responsible nutrient application based on the 4R principles promoted by OCP (right source, right rate, right time, right place). - The use of precision agriculture tools. Rigorous monitoring will be ensured through regular technical visits to support the implementation of practices and optimize carbon capture. Marcos Stelzer, General Director of OCP Brazil, stated, "Transforming agriculture means converging science, technology, and sustainable practices. This project builds on a successful carbon farming initiative by OCP in Brazil and significantly expands our efforts towards resilient and decarbonized livestock. Innovation is our driving force for more efficient and nature-friendly agriculture." The large-scale adoption of sustainable practices focused on soil health, particularly optimized phosphorus management—an essential nutrient for plant growth—will restore degraded lands, sustainably increase livestock productivity, and generate high-quality carbon credits. Braz Peres Neto, President of Liga do Araguaia, commented, "The launch of the Carbono Verde do Araguaia project, in partnership with Ambipar and OCP, along with two local producer organizations—Liga do Araguaia and IAVA—marks a collective turning point to accelerate the adoption of new agricultural practices and build new economic models." Leonardo de Oliveira Gomes, President of the Agro-Environmental Institute of the Araguaia Valley (IAVA), concluded, "Located in the state of Goiás, the Araguaia Valley has historically been marked by extensive livestock farming, which has led to pasture degradation. The conversion of these lands into agricultural zones is underway. The ALM Carbono Verde do Araguaia project will play a major role in disseminating regenerative practices in the region, contributing to sustainable development." ALM refers to agricultural land management, based on the adoption of sustainable practices aimed at increasing agricultural productivity while preserving the environment and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.