1 00:00:17,242 --> 00:00:17,802 Speaker 1: Pushken. 2 00:00:26,682 --> 00:00:29,562 Speaker 2: The first time I visited Lucas of Virgin Matu Gruso 3 00:00:29,922 --> 00:00:33,962 Speaker 2: was in May twenty twenty five. On my first day there, 4 00:00:34,122 --> 00:00:37,562 Speaker 2: I decided to head over to Bruce Raster's Ethano Refinery 5 00:00:37,922 --> 00:00:43,362 Speaker 2: FS Fueling Sustainability to take some photos. Today had down 6 00:00:43,442 --> 00:00:47,402 Speaker 2: a bit cloudy, but it was hot over thirty degrees celsius. 7 00:00:48,042 --> 00:00:51,642 Speaker 2: After lunch, a cold wind started blowing. At three in 8 00:00:51,682 --> 00:00:55,082 Speaker 2: the afternoon. When I was outside the refinery, the sky 9 00:00:55,202 --> 00:00:59,802 Speaker 2: suddenly darkened, the wind started wheeping up sand, and everything 10 00:00:59,842 --> 00:01:03,402 Speaker 2: turned reddish. I managed to film a few seconds off 11 00:01:03,402 --> 00:01:06,642 Speaker 2: the scene before rushing into my car. The wind was 12 00:01:06,682 --> 00:01:10,202 Speaker 2: shaking the Imperial palm trees violently, and I was afraid 13 00:01:10,282 --> 00:01:14,081 Speaker 2: one of them might follow me. On my drive back 14 00:01:14,122 --> 00:01:17,761 Speaker 2: to the hotel, I saw palm branches scattered across the road, 15 00:01:18,362 --> 00:01:22,722 Speaker 2: a fallen utility pole, and a torn billboard. Then the 16 00:01:22,881 --> 00:01:26,682 Speaker 2: rain came and the temperature dropped to about fifteen degrees. 17 00:01:28,081 --> 00:01:30,841 Speaker 2: I kept wondering if that had been an extreme event, 18 00:01:31,282 --> 00:01:32,842 Speaker 2: or if this happened all the time. 19 00:01:33,842 --> 00:01:36,642 Speaker 3: Wonder she get when I read here It's prayed for 20 00:01:36,722 --> 00:01:39,722 Speaker 3: six months and was stunning for six months. 21 00:01:40,402 --> 00:01:43,282 Speaker 2: The Mozilla Santus is an organic farmer who has lived 22 00:01:43,282 --> 00:01:46,122 Speaker 2: in the region for twenty two years. She says that 23 00:01:46,241 --> 00:01:49,442 Speaker 2: everything is now hotter and more stifling, and she has 24 00:01:49,482 --> 00:01:53,802 Speaker 2: a hunch as to why most we no longer have. 25 00:01:53,882 --> 00:01:55,962 Speaker 1: That tall dance vegetations. 26 00:01:56,362 --> 00:01:59,362 Speaker 2: That's where it cools down, That's where debris comes. 27 00:01:59,362 --> 00:01:59,802 Speaker 1: True. 28 00:02:00,482 --> 00:02:03,682 Speaker 2: Now it's just fields, just fields. 29 00:02:03,482 --> 00:02:07,082 Speaker 3: Clearing, more and more clearing, more and more clearing, more 30 00:02:07,122 --> 00:02:11,602 Speaker 3: and more planting, just planting, That's what happens. 31 00:02:12,202 --> 00:02:16,401 Speaker 2: This is also reflected in the data on as when 32 00:02:16,402 --> 00:02:19,802 Speaker 2: i callde front advances, it displaces the hot, dry air 33 00:02:19,962 --> 00:02:23,762 Speaker 2: over the region, also generating very strong wind gusts. 34 00:02:24,402 --> 00:02:27,482 Speaker 4: With the large area of dry loose soil, dust is 35 00:02:27,562 --> 00:02:29,602 Speaker 4: kicked up and creates sandstorms. 36 00:02:30,922 --> 00:02:34,602 Speaker 2: An Apollo Pies is a meteorologist and climate analysis consultant 37 00:02:34,682 --> 00:02:37,362 Speaker 2: with the National Institute for Space Research in Brazil. 38 00:02:37,602 --> 00:02:41,282 Speaker 4: Lucas do Healvas Lucas do Hillviage has been experiencing this 39 00:02:41,482 --> 00:02:44,762 Speaker 4: more frequently because it is in an area of agricultural 40 00:02:44,882 --> 00:02:49,842 Speaker 4: expansion with large tracks of exposed soil during the dry season, 41 00:02:50,282 --> 00:02:52,561 Speaker 4: which facilitates this type of phenomenon. 42 00:02:53,122 --> 00:02:56,082 Speaker 2: She says, the more open land there is, the greater 43 00:02:56,362 --> 00:03:00,602 Speaker 2: chance of windstorms like I soil Lucas als missing Quinta 44 00:03:00,762 --> 00:03:01,922 Speaker 2: by twenty fifty. 45 00:03:02,162 --> 00:03:06,642 Speaker 4: The trend is towards hot days, drier and longer seasons, 46 00:03:06,802 --> 00:03:10,842 Speaker 4: and rainfall more concentrate in extreme events. 47 00:03:11,202 --> 00:03:12,002 Speaker 2: Lucas do juveg. 48 00:03:12,362 --> 00:03:17,202 Speaker 4: This means more challenge for agriculture management, greater pressure on 49 00:03:17,322 --> 00:03:21,322 Speaker 4: water resources, and a need for urban adaptation such as 50 00:03:21,362 --> 00:03:26,042 Speaker 4: street planting, soil management and strategies to reduce heat islands. 51 00:03:27,442 --> 00:03:30,922 Speaker 2: Lucas markets itself as a city of opportunities because of 52 00:03:31,042 --> 00:03:35,282 Speaker 2: agribusiness and its promise of a sustainable future. It's also 53 00:03:35,282 --> 00:03:38,282 Speaker 2: why people like Bruce and the Fronts Brothers, his partners 54 00:03:38,282 --> 00:03:42,482 Speaker 2: in the Brazilian corner Eathanal Business moved there. But what 55 00:03:42,602 --> 00:03:45,562 Speaker 2: that storm of wind and sand show me was another 56 00:03:45,682 --> 00:03:50,522 Speaker 2: side of lucas relationship with agribusiness, and it connects the 57 00:03:50,562 --> 00:03:56,242 Speaker 2: city directly to Bruce's legacy in Iowa. I'm Philip Sabrina. 58 00:03:55,642 --> 00:03:57,802 Speaker 1: And I'm Ammy Westervelt. 59 00:03:57,362 --> 00:03:58,442 Speaker 2: And this is Cowboys. 60 00:03:58,482 --> 00:04:00,562 Speaker 1: You say, how do carbon Cowboys? 61 00:04:00,802 --> 00:04:04,722 Speaker 2: A podcast that tells the story of Hawaii US agribusiness 62 00:04:04,762 --> 00:04:09,882 Speaker 2: tycoon managed to expand industrial agriculture in Brazil by promising 63 00:04:10,042 --> 00:04:11,202 Speaker 2: to protect the client. 64 00:04:20,722 --> 00:04:21,962 Speaker 4: Modelo Quine. 65 00:04:22,282 --> 00:04:24,282 Speaker 2: The put Sandyarch Fruit. 66 00:04:24,122 --> 00:04:27,722 Speaker 5: Project was a model for producing fruits and vegetables fresh produce. 67 00:04:28,402 --> 00:04:32,482 Speaker 5: We wanted to move towards agro ecological and organic practices 68 00:04:32,842 --> 00:04:34,762 Speaker 5: so we wouldn't have to use pesticides right. 69 00:04:36,242 --> 00:04:40,282 Speaker 1: Nilfl Lancher is a farmer from Santa Catarina. He's lived 70 00:04:40,282 --> 00:04:43,002 Speaker 1: with his wife, Ilaria one Hear on a small farm 71 00:04:43,042 --> 00:04:45,962 Speaker 1: in Lucas since two thousand and seven. It's roughly the 72 00:04:45,962 --> 00:04:49,322 Speaker 1: size of five soccer fields. The property is located in 73 00:04:49,362 --> 00:04:52,562 Speaker 1: a rural settlement and half of it is designated as 74 00:04:52,562 --> 00:04:57,002 Speaker 1: an environmental reserve. There they built a small paradise of 75 00:04:57,122 --> 00:05:01,522 Speaker 1: pesticide free food, both for their own consumption and for sale. 76 00:05:01,882 --> 00:05:04,121 Speaker 1: The farm was part of a larger project to create 77 00:05:04,122 --> 00:05:08,041 Speaker 1: settlements for thirty farming families. But over the years, with 78 00:05:08,082 --> 00:05:15,522 Speaker 1: the advance of monoculture farming, of these small farms have survived, and. 79 00:05:15,482 --> 00:05:17,802 Speaker 5: Those settlements in the region where no one ever imagined 80 00:05:17,802 --> 00:05:20,322 Speaker 5: soybeans and corn would enter today they have. 81 00:05:21,122 --> 00:05:24,362 Speaker 1: The spread of these monoculture crops has brought the pesticides 82 00:05:24,402 --> 00:05:27,362 Speaker 1: they were trying to keep at bay closer to them. 83 00:05:27,682 --> 00:05:31,322 Speaker 1: The wind spreads these chemicals over the small farmers fields 84 00:05:31,362 --> 00:05:35,202 Speaker 1: and contaminates their food. In the case of Nilpo and Ilaria, 85 00:05:35,722 --> 00:05:39,682 Speaker 1: this has undermined the couple's production. The insects trying to 86 00:05:39,802 --> 00:05:43,802 Speaker 1: escape the poison from the monoculture crops also end up 87 00:05:43,882 --> 00:05:47,402 Speaker 1: in the fields of Nilpho and Ilaria and other families 88 00:05:47,402 --> 00:05:48,122 Speaker 1: in the settlement. 89 00:05:51,562 --> 00:05:55,642 Speaker 5: Even the lemons or lemon trees died. Citrus doesn't last here. 90 00:05:56,002 --> 00:05:58,202 Speaker 5: It doesn't last more than five or six years here. 91 00:05:58,842 --> 00:06:02,522 Speaker 5: The avocados that are blooming now, they're blooming, but they're 92 00:06:02,562 --> 00:06:05,002 Speaker 5: not sailing fruit. We don't know if it's something to 93 00:06:05,042 --> 00:06:09,362 Speaker 5: do with the climate or the region or pollination. You 94 00:06:09,402 --> 00:06:13,162 Speaker 5: hardly see any bees all all because of the pesticides. 95 00:06:14,282 --> 00:06:17,322 Speaker 1: Even the water in their settlement is drying up. 96 00:06:17,682 --> 00:06:22,562 Speaker 6: They comutari before we pass out for sustain Malada. 97 00:06:22,882 --> 00:06:25,562 Speaker 5: We have a community well, but we've been without water 98 00:06:25,602 --> 00:06:28,722 Speaker 5: since yesterday. If it weren't from my well, there'd be 99 00:06:28,722 --> 00:06:33,242 Speaker 5: no way to water anything. Our production here isn't commercials. 100 00:06:35,242 --> 00:06:38,322 Speaker 5: The Rio Verde no longer fills the reservoir where it 101 00:06:38,442 --> 00:06:41,882 Speaker 5: used to maintain the water level during the drough This 102 00:06:41,922 --> 00:06:44,202 Speaker 5: is also due to the drainage of the water table 103 00:06:44,802 --> 00:06:47,882 Speaker 5: where they dug drainage channels to plant soybeans, so that 104 00:06:48,002 --> 00:06:50,482 Speaker 5: sponge like layer that used to hold water to release 105 00:06:50,602 --> 00:06:53,962 Speaker 5: during the drought has shrunk significantly. We know this has 106 00:06:54,002 --> 00:06:56,202 Speaker 5: a huge impact, but. 107 00:06:56,122 --> 00:07:00,522 Speaker 1: The problems don't just affect Milfo and other small scale farmers. 108 00:07:00,842 --> 00:07:04,682 Speaker 1: They affect the whole city. An analysis conducted by Info 109 00:07:04,762 --> 00:07:08,601 Speaker 1: Amazonia and Tatianamura is a researcher at the Climate and 110 00:07:08,642 --> 00:07:12,522 Speaker 1: Health Observatory of the Oswaldo Cruise Foundation, shows that a 111 00:07:12,602 --> 00:07:15,762 Speaker 1: child born in Lucas do Rio Vergi has a twenty 112 00:07:15,962 --> 00:07:20,402 Speaker 1: percent higher risk of being born with congenital anomalies than 113 00:07:20,442 --> 00:07:23,642 Speaker 1: a child born in another city in the same state, 114 00:07:23,762 --> 00:07:27,162 Speaker 1: six hundred and seventy kilometers away. They say the reason 115 00:07:27,242 --> 00:07:31,722 Speaker 1: for this is the widespread presence of industrial agriculture in Lucas. 116 00:07:33,402 --> 00:07:38,162 Speaker 1: Lucas now has thousands of hectors of monoculture crops like cotton, soy, 117 00:07:38,282 --> 00:07:43,082 Speaker 1: and corn. These crops use an incredible amount of pesticides. 118 00:07:45,762 --> 00:07:50,762 Speaker 7: The contamination is intense in the water, the air, the soil, 119 00:07:51,402 --> 00:07:56,402 Speaker 7: and the people. Everything is contaminated and the effects are 120 00:07:56,442 --> 00:08:00,322 Speaker 7: felt directly by the population. As in the case you 121 00:08:00,362 --> 00:08:02,722 Speaker 7: may be familiar with it of breast milk. 122 00:08:04,162 --> 00:08:08,322 Speaker 1: Professor Debra Carleros is a biologist for the Federal Public 123 00:08:08,322 --> 00:08:12,602 Speaker 1: Prosecutor's Office of Monto Grosso do Sul. She researches pesticides 124 00:08:12,602 --> 00:08:15,962 Speaker 1: in the environment. The case of breast milk she mentions 125 00:08:16,122 --> 00:08:21,242 Speaker 1: was reported on national television. Ahead is That study conducted 126 00:08:21,282 --> 00:08:24,322 Speaker 1: with sixty two breastfeeding mothers in Matto Grosso, revealed that 127 00:08:24,402 --> 00:08:29,242 Speaker 1: all of their milk was contaminated. In addition to finding 128 00:08:29,282 --> 00:08:33,402 Speaker 1: pesticides in all milk samples from the mothers who participated 129 00:08:33,401 --> 00:08:36,962 Speaker 1: in the study, the researchers also discovered that in some 130 00:08:37,042 --> 00:08:41,401 Speaker 1: cases there were six types of pesticides, including one that 131 00:08:41,401 --> 00:08:47,282 Speaker 1: has been banned for over a decade. That study was 132 00:08:47,322 --> 00:08:51,881 Speaker 1: published in twenty eleven. Professor Wanderley Pignatty from the Federal 133 00:08:51,962 --> 00:08:55,362 Speaker 1: University of Manto Grosso was involved in the study. He 134 00:08:55,401 --> 00:08:59,361 Speaker 1: says the problem has not gone away aglage cause. 135 00:08:59,122 --> 00:09:01,561 Speaker 6: Of the main cause is the heavy use of pesticides 136 00:09:01,602 --> 00:09:05,002 Speaker 6: that contaminate the water, the air, the rain and the 137 00:09:05,002 --> 00:09:06,122 Speaker 6: food people are eating. 138 00:09:06,801 --> 00:09:09,722 Speaker 1: Needful one share says that the larger producers, the ones 139 00:09:09,722 --> 00:09:13,442 Speaker 1: who have made Lucas fass As an agricultural leader, could 140 00:09:13,521 --> 00:09:16,122 Speaker 1: help small farmers like him. And it's at this point 141 00:09:16,202 --> 00:09:18,881 Speaker 1: that he mentioned some names we've heard before. 142 00:09:19,561 --> 00:09:23,521 Speaker 2: Now he sie Sichjievo your grande proudors. 143 00:09:25,722 --> 00:09:28,521 Speaker 5: There is no incentive for a large scale farmer who 144 00:09:28,561 --> 00:09:32,161 Speaker 5: has accumulated land there, who could say, no, I'll make 145 00:09:32,202 --> 00:09:34,641 Speaker 5: a point of it here and subdivide that land for 146 00:09:34,722 --> 00:09:38,962 Speaker 5: twenty families to grow vegetables and everything. The former mayor himself, 147 00:09:39,281 --> 00:09:44,002 Speaker 5: who is from Fia grill Miguel right, I mean Marino 148 00:09:44,041 --> 00:09:47,881 Speaker 5: Franz Mano, Julio Paolo. They have a lot of land. 149 00:09:48,521 --> 00:09:51,162 Speaker 5: Instead of giving up for something like this, they want 150 00:09:51,161 --> 00:09:51,722 Speaker 5: to buy more. 151 00:09:53,242 --> 00:09:58,202 Speaker 1: Marino, Paolo and Miguel are Bruce Rastutter's partners in Brazil. 152 00:09:58,602 --> 00:10:02,962 Speaker 1: Together they founded FS in Lucas ten years ago. The 153 00:10:03,041 --> 00:10:10,362 Speaker 1: company throws the word sustainability into its ads whenever it can. 154 00:10:12,761 --> 00:10:16,362 Speaker 1: Ajolda my sustinkda thanks. 155 00:10:17,002 --> 00:10:20,362 Speaker 8: Hoping to make the planet increasingly sustainable has been one 156 00:10:20,362 --> 00:10:23,562 Speaker 8: of the main goals of major industries which are working 157 00:10:23,641 --> 00:10:26,761 Speaker 8: towards a better net zero carbon world. 158 00:10:27,641 --> 00:10:31,602 Speaker 1: FS was founded with this purpose in mind. When Marino 159 00:10:31,761 --> 00:10:35,282 Speaker 1: was mayor, Milfo spoke with his administration about a dream 160 00:10:35,561 --> 00:10:38,722 Speaker 1: of building a green belt in the area. Miilfo's wife, 161 00:10:38,761 --> 00:10:42,361 Speaker 1: Ilaria says the deputy mayor at the time, a businessman 162 00:10:42,482 --> 00:10:48,962 Speaker 1: in the home appliance industry, discouraged the project Eli. She 163 00:10:49,002 --> 00:10:52,081 Speaker 1: says he told Milfo, you'll never be able to do it. 164 00:10:56,881 --> 00:11:00,401 Speaker 1: Bruce and his partners say they started almost from scratch 165 00:11:00,641 --> 00:11:04,722 Speaker 1: as small farmers and celebrate their rags to riches, success 166 00:11:04,761 --> 00:11:08,482 Speaker 1: stories and agribusiness whenever they can. But in the city 167 00:11:08,521 --> 00:11:11,842 Speaker 1: they chose as the birthplace of their empire. In Brazil, 168 00:11:12,602 --> 00:11:15,521 Speaker 1: farms like theirs are crushing the dreams of small farmers, 169 00:11:15,962 --> 00:11:19,002 Speaker 1: much like what happened back in Iowa. As you heard 170 00:11:19,082 --> 00:11:20,122 Speaker 1: in episode two. 171 00:11:20,521 --> 00:11:24,641 Speaker 8: Oh Leasie Lily Fallo ele American. 172 00:11:26,482 --> 00:11:26,881 Speaker 6: Polo. 173 00:11:26,962 --> 00:11:30,442 Speaker 5: He says he's American. He took courses and everything studied 174 00:11:30,482 --> 00:11:34,122 Speaker 5: in the United States, so he has this capitalist mindset 175 00:11:34,161 --> 00:11:36,602 Speaker 5: where he thinks that's how it is that we all 176 00:11:36,602 --> 00:11:39,482 Speaker 5: depend on him, that the jobs he creates or won't matter. 177 00:11:40,082 --> 00:11:42,161 Speaker 5: But he forgets to start in a company like this 178 00:11:42,202 --> 00:11:46,082 Speaker 5: should also be about making food production a priority, but 179 00:11:46,161 --> 00:11:51,722 Speaker 5: for him was sustainable, was economic development, It's agribusiness. 180 00:11:53,002 --> 00:11:56,802 Speaker 1: In August twenty twenty five, when Philippe went to interview Mielfel, 181 00:11:56,881 --> 00:12:00,041 Speaker 1: and Ilaria for the second time at their settlement. They 182 00:12:00,082 --> 00:12:02,602 Speaker 1: had just returned from the market. Some of the food 183 00:12:02,602 --> 00:12:06,002 Speaker 1: they bought they actually grow on the farm, but the 184 00:12:06,041 --> 00:12:09,641 Speaker 1: plants no longer produce enough to cover their household needs. 185 00:12:13,722 --> 00:12:17,761 Speaker 1: This is the vision of a sustainable future that agribusiness 186 00:12:17,881 --> 00:12:22,401 Speaker 1: is creating in Lucas. Cory Melby, the American agricultural consultant 187 00:12:22,482 --> 00:12:25,562 Speaker 1: we heard from earlier in the season, says corn has 188 00:12:25,722 --> 00:12:29,002 Speaker 1: transformed Monto Grosso over the past decade and it was 189 00:12:29,041 --> 00:12:30,682 Speaker 1: all Marino Franz's plan. 190 00:12:31,401 --> 00:12:34,641 Speaker 9: The cornet all is what doubled land prices the past 191 00:12:36,202 --> 00:12:40,562 Speaker 9: decade in Montro Grosso. Marino friends, you know Paulo's brother there, 192 00:12:40,962 --> 00:12:43,402 Speaker 9: I had investors. I mean, I was taking hedge fund 193 00:12:43,401 --> 00:12:45,322 Speaker 9: guys around and it was the mayor at the time, 194 00:12:45,401 --> 00:12:48,082 Speaker 9: and he was giving me all these cool little charts 195 00:12:48,122 --> 00:12:53,042 Speaker 9: with a two hundred kilometer radius around Lucas. And he 196 00:12:53,202 --> 00:12:55,722 Speaker 9: was the first to tell us by twenty twenty, Montre 197 00:12:55,722 --> 00:12:58,242 Speaker 9: Grosso will be to produced in fifty million tons or 198 00:12:58,281 --> 00:13:01,881 Speaker 9: corn everything in this radius, everything around Marino. You're fucking 199 00:13:01,921 --> 00:13:05,082 Speaker 9: folly shit, I said, no way in hell is Montre 200 00:13:05,082 --> 00:13:07,761 Speaker 9: groser going to produce fifty million times in a decade. 201 00:13:08,401 --> 00:13:10,482 Speaker 2: How wrong I was. 202 00:13:12,002 --> 00:13:15,802 Speaker 1: They've turned Matto Grosso into a whole corn utopia. But 203 00:13:15,962 --> 00:13:19,441 Speaker 1: it's not enough. Bruce and the guys wanted more. They 204 00:13:19,442 --> 00:13:22,362 Speaker 1: started eyeing land near the Amazon River. 205 00:13:23,281 --> 00:13:25,202 Speaker 9: I kind of told them not to go there to 206 00:13:25,242 --> 00:13:26,961 Speaker 9: begin with, and then they asked me with on a 207 00:13:27,002 --> 00:13:29,922 Speaker 9: tour to help interpret because they wanted to buy more land. 208 00:13:29,962 --> 00:13:31,162 Speaker 9: I said, you probably shouldn't. 209 00:13:31,962 --> 00:13:34,401 Speaker 2: It's not for grangos to start there. 210 00:13:34,842 --> 00:13:40,202 Speaker 9: That's for experienced braziliance with a plethora of lawyers behind them. 211 00:13:40,801 --> 00:13:44,282 Speaker 1: Bruce didn't take Corey's advice, but he still tried to 212 00:13:44,322 --> 00:13:48,962 Speaker 1: be discreet. Except we found his flag planted in A'mapa 213 00:13:49,161 --> 00:13:52,322 Speaker 1: on four thousand hectares of land in the heart of 214 00:13:52,362 --> 00:14:05,881 Speaker 1: the Amazon. That story is coming up after the break. 215 00:14:07,962 --> 00:14:12,281 Speaker 8: Yeah, Como Prince Sada and this the and Aeroba communities 216 00:14:12,322 --> 00:14:16,642 Speaker 8: squeezes him between these agribusinesses. It's a community of lake fishermen, 217 00:14:16,881 --> 00:14:18,682 Speaker 8: but they've practically lost all their land. 218 00:14:19,922 --> 00:14:23,042 Speaker 1: Father Sisto Magro is Italian but has lived in Brazil 219 00:14:23,122 --> 00:14:27,162 Speaker 1: since nineteen eighty nine. For eighteen years he's worked for 220 00:14:27,242 --> 00:14:31,282 Speaker 1: the Pastoral Land Commission in Amappa with the territories of 221 00:14:31,402 --> 00:14:36,601 Speaker 1: traditional peoples and communities. The Anderobo community he Mentions is 222 00:14:36,722 --> 00:14:40,242 Speaker 1: one of these territories. It has about three hundred inhabitants 223 00:14:40,362 --> 00:14:43,681 Speaker 1: and is located in the rural area of the municipality 224 00:14:43,842 --> 00:14:47,402 Speaker 1: of Rattarugalzino, about two hundred and thirty kilometers from the 225 00:14:47,482 --> 00:14:48,602 Speaker 1: capital Macapa. 226 00:14:49,922 --> 00:14:52,482 Speaker 2: Comeso Partidos miris migos. 227 00:14:52,561 --> 00:14:56,681 Speaker 8: Starting in twenty eleven twenty twelve, agribusinesses began moving an 228 00:14:56,842 --> 00:14:59,922 Speaker 8: en mass right in the logging sector as well as 229 00:14:59,922 --> 00:15:02,562 Speaker 8: in agriculture, specifically soybean monoculture. 230 00:15:03,522 --> 00:15:06,922 Speaker 1: The Salmon Will Farm is one of the agribusinesses squeezing 231 00:15:07,162 --> 00:15:11,762 Speaker 1: the residents of Andaroba between soybean and cornfields. The property 232 00:15:11,802 --> 00:15:15,402 Speaker 1: spans four thousand hectares and has a direct connection to 233 00:15:15,482 --> 00:15:19,441 Speaker 1: Bruce Rastetter. While sifting through documents, father she still gave 234 00:15:19,522 --> 00:15:22,762 Speaker 1: him Flippi ended up at the thirtar Uga Zennial Registry 235 00:15:22,842 --> 00:15:25,682 Speaker 1: office twice looking for more papers. 236 00:15:26,882 --> 00:15:29,922 Speaker 2: Jobon's Documents Usincza. The thing was, no, I would like 237 00:15:30,002 --> 00:15:32,922 Speaker 2: to request some documents please, I have the numbers here. 238 00:15:33,362 --> 00:15:36,961 Speaker 2: Can I tell you that? Okay? It's record two m 239 00:15:37,202 --> 00:15:41,602 Speaker 2: page forty three, Book two. It's registration. Yeah, it's registration. 240 00:15:42,602 --> 00:15:46,681 Speaker 1: The documents Philippe obtained show that a company owned by 241 00:15:46,882 --> 00:15:53,242 Speaker 1: Lucas's mayor and Bruce's partner, Miguel Vaz Ribero, purchased Salmanuel 242 00:15:53,362 --> 00:15:57,482 Speaker 1: Farm in November twenty sixteen. That same month and year, 243 00:15:57,642 --> 00:16:03,201 Speaker 1: it sold the property to a second company, Salmanuel Agricola Limitada. 244 00:16:07,842 --> 00:16:10,522 Speaker 1: Documents from the time show that one of the partners 245 00:16:10,681 --> 00:16:16,962 Speaker 1: in company was would you believe it, Summit Salmanuel LLC, 246 00:16:17,602 --> 00:16:20,722 Speaker 1: based in Iowa in the United States, at the same 247 00:16:20,802 --> 00:16:25,482 Speaker 1: address as Bruce's office. The other partner in the company 248 00:16:25,642 --> 00:16:28,242 Speaker 1: was a firm owned by a co founder of FS 249 00:16:28,522 --> 00:16:32,321 Speaker 1: and the CEO of FS. And here's a really important detail. 250 00:16:32,842 --> 00:16:38,522 Speaker 1: In twenty seventeen, Salmonuel Agricola LIMITAA pledged the Salmonuel Farm 251 00:16:38,722 --> 00:16:42,922 Speaker 1: as collateral for a nearly six million dollar debt owed 252 00:16:43,042 --> 00:16:48,561 Speaker 1: to Bruce's Summit Salmanuel LLC. The debt is due in 253 00:16:48,681 --> 00:16:52,402 Speaker 1: November of this year. If the debt isn't paid, the 254 00:16:52,522 --> 00:16:56,642 Speaker 1: four thousand Hector farm, planted with corn and soybeans, could 255 00:16:56,722 --> 00:17:00,922 Speaker 1: pass entirely into the hands of corn ethanol magnate Bruce Rastetter. 256 00:17:01,522 --> 00:17:05,402 Speaker 1: It's worth noting here that in Brazil, foreigners faced various 257 00:17:05,482 --> 00:17:09,882 Speaker 1: restrictions on buying land, and that's especially true in the Amazon. 258 00:17:11,122 --> 00:17:14,762 Speaker 1: Property is used to settle a debt, things work a 259 00:17:14,802 --> 00:17:21,442 Speaker 1: little differently. To get the environmental permits it needed to 260 00:17:21,522 --> 00:17:24,922 Speaker 1: plant large scale farms a few kilometers from the homes 261 00:17:25,002 --> 00:17:29,161 Speaker 1: in Anderoba, Salmonuel Agricola had to get the consent of 262 00:17:29,282 --> 00:17:30,482 Speaker 1: the community. 263 00:17:32,841 --> 00:17:34,321 Speaker 4: Losto scale. 264 00:17:34,442 --> 00:17:37,242 Speaker 3: They sent an invitation to our principal, the manager of 265 00:17:37,321 --> 00:17:40,682 Speaker 3: the Salmonoel farm, saying there would be a public hearing, 266 00:17:41,042 --> 00:17:43,962 Speaker 3: that various organizations would be present and that it would 267 00:17:43,962 --> 00:17:45,961 Speaker 3: be good for the community to hear what they had 268 00:17:46,042 --> 00:17:48,802 Speaker 3: to say the benefits they would bring to the community. 269 00:17:50,882 --> 00:17:54,962 Speaker 1: This is Jenil se Gonsalves Patoja talking with Philippe and 270 00:17:55,202 --> 00:18:00,282 Speaker 1: Marcia Hiberdosa, our audio producer in Anderoba. She's a resident 271 00:18:00,321 --> 00:18:03,522 Speaker 1: there and a secretary at the school where a public 272 00:18:03,642 --> 00:18:06,681 Speaker 1: hearing on the salmon Weel farm was held in September 273 00:18:06,802 --> 00:18:11,321 Speaker 1: twenty twenty three. President were Salmonuel Agricola's farm direct and 274 00:18:11,482 --> 00:18:14,762 Speaker 1: company employees, as well as public officials such as the 275 00:18:14,841 --> 00:18:19,202 Speaker 1: State Secretary of Environment and the superintendent of the Amapa 276 00:18:19,642 --> 00:18:22,722 Speaker 1: Institute of Historical and Artistic heritage. 277 00:18:24,922 --> 00:18:27,802 Speaker 3: This was a public hearing for the company's licensing. It 278 00:18:27,922 --> 00:18:30,282 Speaker 3: was the public hearing that would lead to the licensing. 279 00:18:30,962 --> 00:18:33,242 Speaker 1: Did you understand that you were being consulted so the 280 00:18:33,361 --> 00:18:36,002 Speaker 1: areas could be cleared? We didn't know that part. 281 00:18:36,121 --> 00:18:38,002 Speaker 3: We knew it was a public hearing where they were 282 00:18:38,081 --> 00:18:41,802 Speaker 3: presenting their case to the community. Because if it were 283 00:18:41,882 --> 00:18:44,802 Speaker 3: up to us, the soybean plantation thing would be a 284 00:18:44,922 --> 00:18:47,522 Speaker 3: tough sell, since we don't see any benefit. 285 00:18:49,361 --> 00:18:52,881 Speaker 1: Jenisay and others that Philippi and Marcia interviewed at the 286 00:18:52,962 --> 00:18:56,641 Speaker 1: Anderuba Community School say they didn't have enough information at 287 00:18:56,682 --> 00:19:00,441 Speaker 1: the hearing to understand that this wasn't just a public 288 00:19:00,601 --> 00:19:04,002 Speaker 1: meeting to learn about the project, that actually this meeting 289 00:19:04,042 --> 00:19:07,081 Speaker 1: would decide whether or not the project happened, and that 290 00:19:07,442 --> 00:19:10,921 Speaker 1: this was their chance to have a say. They all 291 00:19:11,162 --> 00:19:14,922 Speaker 1: to say there was almost no room for public participation 292 00:19:15,361 --> 00:19:19,282 Speaker 1: during the meetings. 293 00:19:20,162 --> 00:19:22,921 Speaker 3: It ended up starting around ten am, and each statement 294 00:19:23,042 --> 00:19:26,242 Speaker 3: had to be a maximum of three minutes. They were 295 00:19:26,282 --> 00:19:29,922 Speaker 3: already asking Father Seesto to stop talking. Then I spoke 296 00:19:30,002 --> 00:19:33,841 Speaker 3: for five minutes and enough enough. They didn't want to 297 00:19:33,882 --> 00:19:36,762 Speaker 3: let me speak. Holding the meeting at ten am on 298 00:19:36,882 --> 00:19:44,402 Speaker 3: a workday also limited participation. Look, there are plenty of children. 299 00:19:44,962 --> 00:19:48,401 Speaker 3: There were more children than adults, So this public hearing 300 00:19:48,841 --> 00:19:52,282 Speaker 3: for the issuance of an environmental permit plant soybeans and 301 00:19:52,442 --> 00:19:56,522 Speaker 3: corn was composed for the most part of school kids. 302 00:19:56,922 --> 00:20:01,002 Speaker 3: According to Jeninci in the Environmental Impact Studies Salmon. While 303 00:20:01,042 --> 00:20:04,121 Speaker 3: Aricola submitted to the Department of the Environment to obtain 304 00:20:04,202 --> 00:20:08,121 Speaker 3: its license, it argued that without the jobs created by 305 00:20:08,202 --> 00:20:12,282 Speaker 3: the farm, the population of Enderova would lose its quality 306 00:20:12,321 --> 00:20:14,881 Speaker 3: of life. They also said that this would lead to 307 00:20:15,042 --> 00:20:19,402 Speaker 3: environmental degradation in the region due to hunting and resource extraction. 308 00:20:20,282 --> 00:20:23,601 Speaker 9: If anyching Brie was a Chivik billow man satching bribus. 309 00:20:23,601 --> 00:20:26,442 Speaker 6: Regarding jobs, we see that at least seven direct jobs 310 00:20:26,482 --> 00:20:28,442 Speaker 6: will be created for this specific project. 311 00:20:29,601 --> 00:20:33,282 Speaker 1: This is Lucas Space, the farm's director. In an interview 312 00:20:33,361 --> 00:20:35,361 Speaker 1: he gave to a local website on the day of 313 00:20:35,402 --> 00:20:41,242 Speaker 1: the hearing. Janie se Gonsalvez Pantoja disagrees lucul. 314 00:20:41,042 --> 00:20:43,722 Speaker 3: Is if we don't see it creating jobs. Sometimes they 315 00:20:43,802 --> 00:20:47,202 Speaker 3: look for people from outside doork within the community itself. 316 00:20:47,482 --> 00:20:50,482 Speaker 3: There are many heads of households who need jobs but 317 00:20:50,642 --> 00:20:54,321 Speaker 3: don't have them. So we don't see this benefit, this 318 00:20:54,482 --> 00:20:57,402 Speaker 3: return they say they give to the community, We don't 319 00:20:57,442 --> 00:21:00,641 Speaker 3: see it. Despite all of that, the public hearing was 320 00:21:00,722 --> 00:21:05,842 Speaker 3: a success. After interviewing people from the Anderoba community, Philibe 321 00:21:05,962 --> 00:21:10,881 Speaker 3: went to the capital, Makapa to speak with Amapa's environmental prosecutor, 322 00:21:11,522 --> 00:21:15,161 Speaker 3: Marcelo Morreda. He asked him about the hearing held by 323 00:21:15,282 --> 00:21:17,442 Speaker 3: Salmonuel Agricola. 324 00:21:20,321 --> 00:21:21,522 Speaker 2: Lindao. 325 00:21:21,882 --> 00:21:25,881 Speaker 6: The public hearing is crucial in theory, it's essential. But 326 00:21:26,002 --> 00:21:28,082 Speaker 6: we didn't hear about the public hearing, and I think 327 00:21:28,121 --> 00:21:31,161 Speaker 6: that's an indication that it wasn't widely publicized, but it 328 00:21:31,242 --> 00:21:34,881 Speaker 6: didn't generate board participation. What we did hear about was 329 00:21:34,962 --> 00:21:38,482 Speaker 6: its outcome through the Pastoral Land Commission, which is another 330 00:21:38,561 --> 00:21:39,162 Speaker 6: sign right. 331 00:21:40,601 --> 00:21:44,601 Speaker 1: Morreda emphasizes the damage that agriculture can cause in the 332 00:21:44,682 --> 00:21:49,802 Speaker 1: region thanks to a peculiarity of the ecosystem itself. Although 333 00:21:49,882 --> 00:21:53,442 Speaker 1: Amapa is in the Amazon, the salmon will farm is 334 00:21:53,522 --> 00:21:57,161 Speaker 1: in a transition zone considered part of the sahato A 335 00:21:57,321 --> 00:22:00,881 Speaker 1: remnant from thousands of years ago when the planet was drier, 336 00:22:01,601 --> 00:22:04,401 Speaker 1: and this is strategic for business owners since in the 337 00:22:04,482 --> 00:22:09,682 Speaker 1: Sejao biome by law, the area protected from deforestation is 338 00:22:09,802 --> 00:22:13,121 Speaker 1: thirty five percent of property. That's a lot smaller than 339 00:22:13,242 --> 00:22:16,162 Speaker 1: land in the Amazon, where you would have to set 340 00:22:16,202 --> 00:22:19,201 Speaker 1: aside eighty percent of the property for conservation. 341 00:22:21,722 --> 00:22:25,002 Speaker 6: The serrada within these Amazonian body and ice, along with 342 00:22:25,081 --> 00:22:28,641 Speaker 6: this area of Makapa, which we call the resaka, a 343 00:22:28,722 --> 00:22:32,641 Speaker 6: wetland or swamp. To the two Oga ducklings, we talk 344 00:22:32,682 --> 00:22:35,482 Speaker 6: about the Amazon and only think of the forest, but 345 00:22:35,522 --> 00:22:38,762 Speaker 6: when it comes to the wetland, it's like, oh, no, 346 00:22:39,081 --> 00:22:39,722 Speaker 6: anything goes. 347 00:22:41,162 --> 00:22:43,962 Speaker 1: The Salmon Will Farm had a fine of nearly nine 348 00:22:44,042 --> 00:22:48,562 Speaker 1: million ray ice for illegal deforestation. The penalty was imposed 349 00:22:48,601 --> 00:22:52,322 Speaker 1: in twenty nineteen, but even still, Bruce and his partners 350 00:22:52,402 --> 00:22:55,802 Speaker 1: managed to obtain licenses to plant tons of corn and 351 00:22:55,922 --> 00:23:00,402 Speaker 1: soybeans in the very same location where the environmental violation occurred. 352 00:23:01,002 --> 00:23:04,802 Speaker 1: The operating license is valid until twenty thirty and the 353 00:23:04,962 --> 00:23:09,161 Speaker 1: fine was waived this year after the break. What was 354 00:23:09,242 --> 00:23:12,522 Speaker 1: so attractive for Bruce and the guys about the Amazon 355 00:23:12,762 --> 00:23:38,762 Speaker 1: in the first place. After visiting Tartarugazino in Amapa, Philippi 356 00:23:38,762 --> 00:23:42,842 Speaker 1: and Marcia went to Santana Island, twenty five kilometers from 357 00:23:42,922 --> 00:23:46,161 Speaker 1: Makapa on the banks of the Amazon River. It's the 358 00:23:46,282 --> 00:23:51,882 Speaker 1: site of Miguel Vaz and Marino Franz's new venture. See 359 00:23:52,002 --> 00:23:54,442 Speaker 1: the thing that was most attractive about buying land in 360 00:23:54,522 --> 00:23:59,962 Speaker 1: Amapa was its proximity to the Amazon River. Here's Corey again. 361 00:24:00,841 --> 00:24:02,762 Speaker 9: You're at the most of the Amazon. You don't have 362 00:24:02,922 --> 00:24:05,802 Speaker 9: all this Matro grossove bis to deal with with with 363 00:24:05,962 --> 00:24:09,802 Speaker 9: with getting stuff to market, so to speak. You're at, 364 00:24:09,962 --> 00:24:13,282 Speaker 9: You're at, You're already the market, so do speak now. 365 00:24:13,682 --> 00:24:17,282 Speaker 1: Vaz and Franz are trying to expand agriculture along the 366 00:24:17,402 --> 00:24:21,122 Speaker 1: Amazon River. They began by building a private terminal there 367 00:24:21,242 --> 00:24:24,081 Speaker 1: to handle and store grains arriving from the mid northern 368 00:24:24,121 --> 00:24:27,561 Speaker 1: region of Mato Grosso. The idea is to transform these 369 00:24:27,642 --> 00:24:31,522 Speaker 1: grains into other products like feed meal and refined corn oil, 370 00:24:31,802 --> 00:24:34,242 Speaker 1: and then export them to Europe, the Gulf of Mexico, 371 00:24:34,482 --> 00:24:39,642 Speaker 1: the Caribbean, and the Guyanas. Their company, called Cianport Combania 372 00:24:39,722 --> 00:24:45,042 Speaker 1: Norte de NAVAGASAUI Porthos, anticipates a handling capacity of two 373 00:24:45,361 --> 00:24:49,681 Speaker 1: million tons of grain per year, storage for ninety thousand tons, 374 00:24:49,762 --> 00:24:52,802 Speaker 1: and a loading and unloading capacity of two thousand tons 375 00:24:52,922 --> 00:24:57,922 Speaker 1: per hour. Since twenty sixteen, Cianport has been operating grain 376 00:24:58,002 --> 00:25:01,401 Speaker 1: transport at the Port of Santana across from the island, 377 00:25:02,002 --> 00:25:04,601 Speaker 1: but we were focused on the other bank of the 378 00:25:04,682 --> 00:25:05,442 Speaker 1: Amazon River. 379 00:25:06,081 --> 00:25:06,282 Speaker 2: There. 380 00:25:06,561 --> 00:25:09,522 Speaker 1: Vaz and Franz's third business partner in the port, a 381 00:25:09,601 --> 00:25:14,161 Speaker 1: man named Claudio Jose Zancanado, or ze Gannadio, as the 382 00:25:14,242 --> 00:25:18,722 Speaker 1: locals call him, had transformed a modest brick house into 383 00:25:18,802 --> 00:25:21,122 Speaker 1: a port for international exports. 384 00:25:23,162 --> 00:25:26,642 Speaker 2: Have you ever heard of someone named Claudi Jose Zancanado. 385 00:25:27,042 --> 00:25:30,722 Speaker 7: Never. I've never heard my father mention him. My father 386 00:25:30,962 --> 00:25:34,082 Speaker 7: was an influential man here. I've never heard of him. 387 00:25:34,642 --> 00:25:39,242 Speaker 1: Maria Oswaldina Perea do Santos tells us to call her val. 388 00:25:39,882 --> 00:25:43,361 Speaker 1: She's sixty two years old. She was born in Masagao, 389 00:25:43,442 --> 00:25:46,841 Speaker 1: a nearby town, but was raised on Santana Island since 390 00:25:46,882 --> 00:25:49,402 Speaker 1: she was a baby. She's one of the longest time 391 00:25:49,522 --> 00:25:55,121 Speaker 1: residents here and had never met anyone named Claudio Jose Zancanado. However, 392 00:25:55,522 --> 00:25:59,442 Speaker 1: in August twenty twelve, Zanganado sent a document to the 393 00:25:59,522 --> 00:26:03,722 Speaker 1: Federal Heritage Superintendents stating that he'd been living in a 394 00:26:03,802 --> 00:26:07,242 Speaker 1: house on the island since January of that year. It 395 00:26:07,361 --> 00:26:10,602 Speaker 1: stood on a twenty hector plot facing the Amazon River. 396 00:26:12,042 --> 00:26:15,082 Speaker 1: Built of brick and wood. The photos of the interior 397 00:26:15,121 --> 00:26:17,962 Speaker 1: of the house attached to the case file show a 398 00:26:18,081 --> 00:26:21,561 Speaker 1: simple place with pots and glasses and plastic containers in 399 00:26:21,642 --> 00:26:25,202 Speaker 1: the kitchen, clothes and cosmetics in the bathroom, a place 400 00:26:25,482 --> 00:26:29,962 Speaker 1: just like anyone else's house. In that document, Zanganado asked 401 00:26:30,002 --> 00:26:33,961 Speaker 1: for a land occupation registration, in other words, a record 402 00:26:34,202 --> 00:26:36,242 Speaker 1: stating that he had the right to use this piece 403 00:26:36,282 --> 00:26:39,762 Speaker 1: of land. It could not be a property deed since 404 00:26:39,802 --> 00:26:41,321 Speaker 1: it was federal land. 405 00:26:43,882 --> 00:26:47,121 Speaker 7: Doctor Moysis was the veterinarian we had here on the island. 406 00:26:47,722 --> 00:26:51,042 Speaker 7: He lived down there where the port operated by Sandport 407 00:26:51,162 --> 00:26:51,762 Speaker 7: is located. 408 00:26:52,522 --> 00:26:55,442 Speaker 1: Val explained that the house Zanganado said he lived in 409 00:26:55,722 --> 00:26:58,962 Speaker 1: actually belonged to a doctor Moyses, who had died a 410 00:26:59,002 --> 00:27:03,081 Speaker 1: few years earlier. Moyses was the town vet. Zanganado had 411 00:27:03,121 --> 00:27:06,162 Speaker 1: bought the house from him, and Val says she never 412 00:27:06,282 --> 00:27:09,522 Speaker 1: heard of him living there, but in September twenty thirteen, 413 00:27:10,121 --> 00:27:14,402 Speaker 1: the government granted the certificate of occupancy. The very next month, 414 00:27:14,601 --> 00:27:18,402 Speaker 1: he requested a transfer of ownership of the area to Cianport, 415 00:27:19,242 --> 00:27:23,722 Speaker 1: his and Miguel Vaz's company that transports green from Manto Grosso. 416 00:27:24,202 --> 00:27:28,402 Speaker 2: It sits What are you guys going to do here? 417 00:27:28,882 --> 00:27:32,442 Speaker 6: We're going to build a port, little ship, soybean's soybean 418 00:27:32,482 --> 00:27:35,361 Speaker 6: mail all kinds of stuff all over the world, mainly 419 00:27:35,442 --> 00:27:39,202 Speaker 6: to China. This belongs to Zaike Canario, a guy from Goyash. 420 00:27:40,042 --> 00:27:43,081 Speaker 2: This is private when you will need to be ready 421 00:27:43,601 --> 00:27:44,642 Speaker 2: in about five years. 422 00:27:45,642 --> 00:27:47,881 Speaker 1: This is a local resident who didn't want to be 423 00:27:47,962 --> 00:27:51,402 Speaker 1: identified for fear of retribution. He told us more about 424 00:27:51,402 --> 00:27:55,802 Speaker 1: the construction of Cianport's port. The transfer of ownership from 425 00:27:56,081 --> 00:28:00,002 Speaker 1: Zanganado or Zaei Gannadio, as the locals here call him, 426 00:28:00,361 --> 00:28:05,042 Speaker 1: to the company's Cianport was authorized in January twenty fourteen, 427 00:28:10,361 --> 00:28:14,322 Speaker 1: so with just a few signatures and some bureaucratic formalities, 428 00:28:14,601 --> 00:28:17,002 Speaker 1: an area of the Amazon that had served solely as 429 00:28:17,042 --> 00:28:21,841 Speaker 1: a home for artisanal fishermen was transformed overnight into a 430 00:28:21,922 --> 00:28:25,962 Speaker 1: site that would host a massive grain warehouse for international export. 431 00:28:27,121 --> 00:28:29,962 Speaker 1: Where there used to be a small family home surrounded 432 00:28:30,002 --> 00:28:34,161 Speaker 1: by fruit trees, Today there is extensive deforestation and the 433 00:28:34,242 --> 00:28:40,202 Speaker 1: start of construction on warehouses, silos, conveyor belts, and other megastructures. 434 00:28:41,162 --> 00:28:44,482 Speaker 1: It's capable of loading and unloading two thousand tons of 435 00:28:44,602 --> 00:28:48,082 Speaker 1: grain per hour. Local residents were never consulted about this 436 00:28:48,242 --> 00:28:56,242 Speaker 1: drastic change to their community. Here's val again, dadj Namo 437 00:28:56,402 --> 00:28:57,602 Speaker 1: is no siko. 438 00:29:00,642 --> 00:29:04,242 Speaker 7: They did nothing. Nobody knew. We found out from a 439 00:29:04,362 --> 00:29:07,402 Speaker 7: man who worked at the government office. He left here 440 00:29:07,962 --> 00:29:11,122 Speaker 7: and he since passed away. He saw this project on 441 00:29:11,242 --> 00:29:14,242 Speaker 7: paper there, so he brought it here to tell the people. 442 00:29:15,002 --> 00:29:16,962 Speaker 7: No one believed it because they had to see it 443 00:29:17,042 --> 00:29:20,842 Speaker 7: on paper. They said it wasn't going to happen. Oh, 444 00:29:21,362 --> 00:29:23,681 Speaker 7: there it is right in front of us. There are 445 00:29:23,722 --> 00:29:27,682 Speaker 7: ships passing by every day picking up soybeans. It stinks 446 00:29:27,802 --> 00:29:31,842 Speaker 7: like chicken poop, really stinky. It's the soybean dust that 447 00:29:31,962 --> 00:29:36,562 Speaker 7: the wind blows over here. Look, I don't think this 448 00:29:36,722 --> 00:29:41,802 Speaker 7: future is very promising because they're destroying everything. The forests are, 449 00:29:41,882 --> 00:29:46,522 Speaker 7: woodlands are ancient trees. I'm afraid if they keep destroying 450 00:29:46,602 --> 00:29:48,882 Speaker 7: all this, it's going to get really hot. 451 00:29:50,242 --> 00:29:55,242 Speaker 1: March Almapa's environmental prosecutor says that port issues have become 452 00:29:55,482 --> 00:29:56,922 Speaker 1: common in nearby Alma. 453 00:29:57,042 --> 00:30:03,002 Speaker 6: Ba Amapa is a port of entry for ships that 454 00:30:03,122 --> 00:30:06,602 Speaker 6: generally transport grain and all. They stop at the local port, 455 00:30:06,642 --> 00:30:08,242 Speaker 6: and we already know there are impacts. 456 00:30:09,762 --> 00:30:12,602 Speaker 1: He says, for Santana. This is a new and rapidly 457 00:30:12,682 --> 00:30:14,362 Speaker 1: increasing problem the. 458 00:30:14,482 --> 00:30:19,162 Speaker 6: United on Santana Island. I don't think they even really land. 459 00:30:19,162 --> 00:30:22,562 Speaker 6: It's the magnitude of the impact. Santana Island has been 460 00:30:22,602 --> 00:30:26,002 Speaker 6: inhabited since the eighteenth century. It was a long standing 461 00:30:26,202 --> 00:30:27,922 Speaker 6: set in that but it's an impoverished coe. 462 00:30:29,202 --> 00:30:33,162 Speaker 1: Santana Island has no sewage system, water for drinking, cooking, 463 00:30:33,282 --> 00:30:37,642 Speaker 1: and bathing comes from untreated wells, and public garbage collection 464 00:30:38,002 --> 00:30:42,762 Speaker 1: is inadequate. Prosecutor Moreta warns of the effects of real 465 00:30:42,882 --> 00:30:46,602 Speaker 1: estate speculation that comes hand in hand with these mega developments, 466 00:30:47,242 --> 00:30:51,282 Speaker 1: more environmental devastation, a higher cost of living, and greater 467 00:30:51,442 --> 00:30:54,682 Speaker 1: precariousness for already impoverished populations. 468 00:30:56,962 --> 00:30:59,682 Speaker 2: Magazine we back for the market. 469 00:30:59,762 --> 00:31:03,722 Speaker 6: It's great. This invisible impact, which will never be measured 470 00:31:03,722 --> 00:31:07,002 Speaker 6: in any public hearing or licensing process, is what truly 471 00:31:07,042 --> 00:31:10,122 Speaker 6: affects the Amazon we know today, and soon it won't 472 00:31:10,122 --> 00:31:10,962 Speaker 6: really exist anymore. 473 00:31:13,722 --> 00:31:16,762 Speaker 1: Corey's warnings to Bruce were right. It's hard for foreigners 474 00:31:16,802 --> 00:31:20,082 Speaker 1: to do business in the Amazon because there's so many 475 00:31:20,282 --> 00:31:23,442 Speaker 1: protections in place for land rights and the environment. 476 00:31:23,562 --> 00:31:23,722 Speaker 4: There. 477 00:31:24,322 --> 00:31:27,602 Speaker 1: For good reason, Indigenous people have fought hard for rights 478 00:31:27,722 --> 00:31:31,722 Speaker 1: to their ancestral lands and the ecosystem there is critical 479 00:31:31,882 --> 00:31:34,762 Speaker 1: to the well being of Brazil and the entire planet. 480 00:31:35,882 --> 00:31:39,042 Speaker 1: But despite some obstacles, Bruce and his partners managed to 481 00:31:39,122 --> 00:31:42,282 Speaker 1: grow rapidly in the Amazon, first by building a large 482 00:31:42,402 --> 00:31:47,122 Speaker 1: farm and now by constructing a major private port, all 483 00:31:47,162 --> 00:31:49,842 Speaker 1: of this in less than a decade thanks to the 484 00:31:50,202 --> 00:31:55,122 Speaker 1: slow enforcement and fines for environmental violations committed by major 485 00:31:55,322 --> 00:32:00,402 Speaker 1: agribusiness executives. As a result, the communities protecting the Amazon 486 00:32:00,522 --> 00:32:05,162 Speaker 1: and the Sejado are being steamrolled by developers. Bruce's development 487 00:32:05,242 --> 00:32:08,202 Speaker 1: plans Intentzania may have failed, as you heard about in 488 00:32:08,322 --> 00:32:12,922 Speaker 1: episode two, but in Amapa he having better luck. And 489 00:32:13,042 --> 00:32:16,002 Speaker 1: if you think that this cruise ambitions end with a 490 00:32:16,122 --> 00:32:20,362 Speaker 1: megaport for international experts in the Amazon and grain plantations 491 00:32:20,402 --> 00:32:28,122 Speaker 1: there too, you can raise your expectations. The Amazon is 492 00:32:28,202 --> 00:32:32,721 Speaker 1: one of the world's largest carbon sinks, naturally storing billions 493 00:32:32,802 --> 00:32:37,362 Speaker 1: of tons of carbon, but FS wants to industrialize the process. 494 00:32:38,002 --> 00:32:41,162 Speaker 1: We found documents showing that FS is attempting to change 495 00:32:41,242 --> 00:32:46,202 Speaker 1: Brazilian laws to make carbon capture projects in the Amazon feasible. 496 00:32:46,682 --> 00:32:49,362 Speaker 1: They want it to be treated as a regulatory priority 497 00:32:49,522 --> 00:32:52,482 Speaker 1: for the country and they have direct access to the 498 00:32:52,602 --> 00:32:56,322 Speaker 1: government to make their case. That's our story next time. 499 00:33:00,762 --> 00:33:04,522 Speaker 1: We reached out to Bruce Rastetter, Harold Ham, the Frownz Brothers, 500 00:33:04,682 --> 00:33:08,721 Speaker 1: Miguel vas Ribero, and all Summit companies and Brazilian government 501 00:33:08,802 --> 00:33:12,362 Speaker 1: agencies mentioned in this season for US and have incorporated 502 00:33:12,402 --> 00:33:15,042 Speaker 1: any responses we received throughout the season. 503 00:33:16,122 --> 00:33:20,162 Speaker 2: Carbon Cowboys. Cowboys of the Sejadu is a collaboration between 504 00:33:20,282 --> 00:33:22,042 Speaker 2: Drilled and The Intercept to Brazil. 505 00:33:22,442 --> 00:33:26,002 Speaker 1: The show was reported and written by Philippie Sabrina and 506 00:33:26,162 --> 00:33:28,162 Speaker 1: me Emmy westerbut. 507 00:33:27,802 --> 00:33:31,522 Speaker 2: Our editors are Audrey Quinn in the US and Alissa 508 00:33:31,562 --> 00:33:32,802 Speaker 2: DeSouza in Brazil. 509 00:33:33,202 --> 00:33:36,682 Speaker 1: Our senior producer and sound designer is Martin saltz Ostwek. 510 00:33:37,202 --> 00:33:41,242 Speaker 1: Audio production and sound design in Brazil by Marcia Heberdoza 511 00:33:41,442 --> 00:33:42,522 Speaker 1: and Philippe MoOx. 512 00:33:43,402 --> 00:33:48,122 Speaker 2: Our impact producer is Lindsay Crawder. Theme song and original 513 00:33:48,242 --> 00:33:50,042 Speaker 2: music by Eric Terana. 514 00:33:50,082 --> 00:33:54,482 Speaker 1: Additional music by Martin saltz Ostwek. Our engineer is Peter Duff. 515 00:33:55,002 --> 00:33:58,681 Speaker 2: Artwork for Drilled is by Matt Flanny. US fact checking 516 00:33:58,962 --> 00:34:02,922 Speaker 2: from Naomi Bar Brazil. Fact checking by Studio Froontea. 517 00:34:03,322 --> 00:34:06,002 Speaker 1: Our first Amendment attorney is James Wheaton with the First 518 00:34:06,002 --> 00:34:10,162 Speaker 1: Amendment Project. We are also proud members of Reporter Shield, 519 00:34:11,082 --> 00:34:14,922 Speaker 1: thanks also to Andrew Fishman, president of The Intercept to Brazil. 520 00:34:15,722 --> 00:34:18,802 Speaker 2: Drilled is distributed by Pushkin Industries. 521 00:34:18,882 --> 00:34:22,802 Speaker 1: Huge thanks to the team there, including Greta Cohen, Eric Sandler, 522 00:34:23,002 --> 00:34:28,442 Speaker 1: Grace Ross, Morgan Ratner, Owen Miller, Kira Posey, Jordan McMillan, 523 00:34:28,962 --> 00:34:33,401 Speaker 1: Brian Schreberneck and Jake Flanagan. To hear the Portuguese version 524 00:34:33,442 --> 00:34:36,802 Speaker 1: of this series, head over to the Intercept Brazil's site, 525 00:34:37,402 --> 00:34:40,842 Speaker 1: or search for The Intercept Brazil's podcast feed wherever you 526 00:34:41,002 --> 00:34:42,201 Speaker 1: listen to podcasts.