The economy of Mato Grosso is based on the exuberance of its agri-business. It is the largest producer of soy bean and cotton, the second largest of rice, seventh in corn and fifth in sugar cane. And the State also has the largest beef cattle herd in the country.

The area for the production of grain and fibre is approximately 7 million hectares which is about 8% of the territory of Mato Grosso.

With growing productivity rates, the use of irrigation and rational use of the land, the State is due to produce 45 million tons in 2012 with only a slight increase in the area used for faming thus reducing environmental impact.

Improved genetics introduced into the cattle herd allows for large advances in the production of meat without the need for significant expansion of the pasture areas. Traceability of the cattle and meeting international sanitation agreements guarantees the quality of the final product which could appear on the tables of consumers all over the world.

An abundant supply of corn and soy bean places Mato Grosso in a highly competitive position world wide for investments in pig and poutry farming both of which are the fastest growing activities in the State.

The State also has other strong economic segments that hold great socio-economic importance including alcohol and sugar production, and timber and leather products.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION: Mato Grosso is part of the “Legal Amazon” which covers 61% of Brazilian territory. Of this immense area only 14.4% have been opened up for agricultural purposes and other occupations. Agriculture itself takes up less than 1.88% of the Amazon of which 1.2% is concentrated in the States of Mato Grosso, Tocantins and Maranhão, states which are located on the outer limits of the forest.

The total area of indigenous land, national and state parks, ecological reserves and the Pantanal put together means that an area of 27 milion hectares, equivalent to 30% of the State’s territory, has already been guaranteed conservation.

Respect for the Brazilian Environmental Law, onde of the toughest in the world, is one of the flagship policies of Governor Blairo Maggi. A modrn monitoring system of deforestation and burning provides a powerful ally in making sure that forest occupation is carried out within the limits defined by the Agri-ecological Zoning of the State.

Some concrete action already taken can demonstrate this:

· Inspection, control and sanctions for those that carry out deforestation without due permission.
· Environmental education programmes for state school.
· Replantation of 1 million hectares of riverside forests and recuperation of degraded areas.
· The creation of ecological corridors.
· Control and isnpection of the Piracema (Reproduction period of the fish) fishing ban.
· State monitoring of water quality levels.
· A Pantanal revitalisation and conservation programe.
· Expansion of ecological reserves and parks.
· Respect for the Indigenous reservations.