EN 
PT_BR 
Understanding the environmental situation of a property can be the first step towards sustainable production. This is the purpose of the socio-environmental diagnosis of the Legal Soy Program, an initiative of the Mato Grosso Soybean and Corn Producers Association (Aprosoja MT). Even before any on-site guidance, the program analyzes in detail the environmental, labor, and land tenure situation of the property, highlighting the strengths and opportunities for improvement for the producer.
The process begins with the analysis of data from the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) and information linked to the Individual Taxpayer Registry (CPF). The data obtained is entered into a system that cross-references possible environmental issues, embargoes, social and labor data.
According to the vice-president of Aprosoja MT and coordinator of the Sustainability Commission, Luiz Pedro Bier, this step guarantees safety for producers, allowing them to know the real situation even before the technical visit.
“We provide producers with security regarding their data, ensuring they won't be prevented from delivering soybeans, because we can notify them of any changes that occur within their CPF (Brazilian individual taxpayer registration number) or CAR (Rural Environmental Registry). It's possible to affirm that a producer with this positive diagnosis meets all legal standards required by law,” states Bier.
Following the initial assessment, the team visits the property, verifying environmental, operational, and safety practices on-site. During this stage, necessary adjustments are made, which can often be simple but are essential for the continued production on that property.
Cláudio Luis Schons, a producer from the Lucas do Rio Verde Nucleus, participated in the evaluations and says he was surprised by the level of detail in the Legal Soybean program. "What stood out most was the quality, safety, and environmental responsibility in food production, the care taken with machinery, the necessary protections, and the Personal Protective Equipment needed for everyone to have better quality in their work," he says.
For him, the program has also become a source of constant updates. "The positive aspect is that we learn the rules as they are updated. So, with each new development and each update that comes in the newsletters, we refine and implement it on the farm to have greater security," he adds.
For Aprosoja MT, technical advancements have a direct impact on producers and also reflect on the image of Mato Grosso's agribusiness. The "Soja Legal" (Legal Soy) program gathers real data that supports the organization's positions in international negotiations, dialogue with government agencies, and legal defenses, as Luiz Pedro Bier explains: “The data obtained underpin the association's decisions and arguments for sustainability agreements, international guidelines, and even issues with government and judicial bodies. It is important to demonstrate, with data, the commitment of Mato Grosso's agribusiness to the law.”
The program was also designed to grow organically, based on recognition from the participants themselves. "We hope that with the 'Legal Soy' program progressing well and truly helping rural producers, the producers themselves will become advocates for the program. Word of mouth will increase participation," says Bier.
At the end of the entire process, the property may receive a classification according to the requirements met within the program, which can be Bronze, when the producer has achieved between 50% and 75% of the objectives, Silver when achieving between 75% and 91%, or Gold between 92% and 100%. In addition, a personalized plan for continuous improvement is provided to the producer who has not yet reached the highest levels.
Socio-environmental diagnosis is a management tool that allows producers to visualize where they can still make progress. In the Soja Legal program, sustainability is a continuous process that allows for the evolution of a property, expanding production and guaranteeing security for the producer through in-depth and transparent technical knowledge.
To be part of the program, the producer must contact the Producer Channel by phone (65) 3027-8100.
