OCP Group Launches 100,000-Hectare Restoration Project in Brazil’s Araguaia Valley

Morocco’s OCP Group has partnered with environmental management specialist Ambipar and local organizations to launch an ambitious land restoration project targeting 100,000 hectares of degraded pastures in Brazil’s Araguaia Valley. The ALM Carbono Verde do Araguaia initiative represents a significant expansion of OCP’s sustainable agriculture efforts in Latin America’s critical Cerrado biome.

The 50-year project will generate high-integrity carbon credits through sustainable Agricultural Land Management practices,with initial credits expected within three to five years. The first phase spans three years and will restore approximately 80,000 hectares across 60 farms before expanding to the full target area,positioning it among South America’s largest corporate-led restoration initiatives.

Located in the Cerrado biome covering over 20% of Brazilian territory and ranking among the world’s biodiversity hotspots,the Araguaia Valley has suffered extensive degradation from traditional cattle ranching practices. The project aims to reverse this damage while creating new economic opportunities for local farmers through carbon credit generation and improved agricultural productivity.

OCP Brasil,a subsidiary of OCP Nutricrops,will implement its proven 4R nutrient management principles—right source,right rate,right time,right place—alongside precision agriculture tools to optimize phosphorus application,essential for soil restoration and plant growth. Participating ranchers will receive comprehensive support including technical training,regular monitoring visits,and soil analysis to track carbon sequestration progress.

The partnership brings together complementary expertise: Liga do Araguaia and the Agro-Environmental Institute of the Araguaia Valley provide local knowledge and community engagement,while Ambipar contributes environmental project management capabilities. This collaborative approach ensures both technical excellence and local acceptance of regenerative practices including cover crop management and precision fertilization.

For OCP Group,committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040,the Brazilian initiative serves dual strategic purposes: advancing decarbonization goals while establishing scalable business models linking sustainable farming with carbon markets. The project demonstrates how private sector investment can accelerate climate action while maintaining agricultural productivity and supporting global food security objectives.