Mid Mato Grosso State is one of the areas with worst current brutal expansion of agribusiness over natural ecosystems, resulting in heavy impacts on native environment (which is converted into homogeneous productive landscapes), on local communities (which were or are still directly or indirectly under pressure to sell their lands) and on family farmers (who are generally concentrated in agrarian reform settlement projects created since the 1970s).

The project proposes development of a model for sustainable agriculture, contributing to generation of income, social inclusion and improved quality of life for family farmers in Mid Northern Mato Grosso. Focus will be placed on organic medicinal plant crop systems, as well as their transformation into raw materials, adding quality and value to production. Expanded laboratory infra-structure is an objective, particularly for production of cosmetics, food supplements and tea. Quality control is also an objective. The family farmer community in the region will be influenced to expand medicinal plant crops and their management. Furthermore, improvements will be made to the quality of life of the local population by means of generation of income, as well as expanded use of natural health and food products.

The Father João Peter Institute (Instituto Padre João Peter ? IPJP) is responsible for the project. It is a non-profit organization of municipal, state and federal public utility. IPJP has a medicinal plant cosmetics and phytotherapeuticals laboratory located in the Lucas do Rio Verde urban area.