A project that provides agricultural, legal and marketing support to farmers wanting to move from livestock farming to plant-based food production has been launched by food awareness organization, ProVeg Brazil.
The initiative, called the Cultiva Project, aims to support rural producers in migrating from animal production systems to plant-based agroforestry models - which combine trees with crops - promoting an economically viable, environmentally sustainable and socially fair alternative for family farmers.
Brazil is one of the largest producers of animal products globally and livestock farming is associated with 90% of deforestation in the Amazon as well as more than half of the country's greenhouse gas emissions.
Despite having one third of its territory occupied by agriculture, of which 58% are pastures, Brazil still faces challenges in supplying natural and minimally processed foods to its own population in order to guarantee them a healthy and adequate diet.
“We are proposing a solution to this impasse called the Cultiva Project, which will encourage just transition, food security and more sustainable agricultural production," Aline Baroni, Executive Director of ProVeg Brazil, said.
“We are offering, completely free of charge, technical support in the areas of agronomy, law and marketing for producers who are motivated to start producing plant-based foods. It is an investment in the future of family farming, because we know how important it is to guarantee food security and promote healthy eating in Brazil.”
The project will select, through a public notice, rural producers who currently operate with animal production of any type, such as raising cattle for meat or milk, poultry for meat or eggs, or pigs.
An individualized transition plan will then be drawn up, with full participation of the producer, offering specialized technical support for a minimum period of 9 months for the implementation of at least 1 hectare of agroforestry on each property.
"Our goal is to accelerate the transition to more sustainable plant-rich food systems. With this project, we seek not only to reduce the environmental impact of animal production, but also to offer rural producers a new income prospect," Baroni said.
What are Agroforestry Systems?
Agroforestry systems are forms of production that combine trees or arboreal plants with agricultural crops, integrating these elements in the same space in a planned and sustainable way.
These systems promote greater biodiversity, better land use, soil health, conservation of natural resources and greater environmental resilience.
Agroforestry systems have the capacity to generate up to six times more income per hectare than livestock, in addition to contributing to the production of a variety of foods, improving the food security of farming families and their communities.
In addition to offering food products, timber or other resources, agroforestry systems contribute to protecting biodiversity, combating deforestation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, aligning economic production with more sustainable and environmentally responsible management practices.
Interested producers can register online through the Cultiva Project website until 2 July 2025.