Brazil regulator suspends soy moratorium, orders probe of exporters
By Ana Mano
SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Brazil's competition authority CADE has given grain traders in the world's largest soybean exporter 10 days to suspend a program called "soy moratorium" or face hefty fines, in a ruling seen by Reuters on Monday.
The two-decade-old private pact seeks to protect the Amazon rainforest, by barring soybean traders from buying from farmers who cleared land there after July 2008, but it represents a potential breach of Brazilian competition law.
In his signed decision, the agency's general superintendent Alexandre Barreto de Souza called for a full investigation into the signatories of the voluntary corporate program in which companies share commercially sensitive information.
Firms wishing to apply soy moratorium criteria to buy soybeans grown in the Amazon "must do so independently and in accordance with national legislation," he wrote.
However, environmental group Greenpeace said the ruling was the result of pressure from the farm lobby, compromising nearly two decades of progress.
"By suspending the moratorium, CADE not only encourages deforestation but also silences consumers' right to choose products that do not contribute to the devastation of the Amazon," it said in a statement after the ruling was issued.
The attacks on the pact "are political and favor precisely those who profit most from the destruction of the Amazon," it added.
CADE's decision to suspend the program was "historic", said farmer group Aprosoja Mato Grosso.
"For years, a private agreement without legal support has been imposing unfair trade barriers on farmers ... preventing the sale of crops grown in regular and licensed areas," it said in a statement.
De Souza has given soy buyers and trade groups Anec and Abiove, which represent global grain handlers such as ADM, Bunge, Cargill, Louis Dreyfus and Cofco, 10 days to comply with the ruling.
CADE's stance on the moratorium is "extremely worrisome" and will be appealed, Anec, which represents grain exporters, said in a statement, however.
The program should stand as it is "a multi-sector pact" backed by civil society, the environment ministry and Brazil's environment agency Ibama, it added.
Abiove, which represents oilseeds crushers, said it was "surprised" at the recommendation for a full-blown probe and imposition of preventive measures, adding in a statement that it would take steps to prove the pact was legal.
CADE's preventive measures must be adopted by the soy moratorium's working group, including Anec and Abiove, and 30 grain companies that have signed up to the program, the ruling showed.
It also ordered soy exporters to refrain from collecting, sharing, storing and disseminating commercially sensitive information related to the soy trade and the farmers with whom they do business.
The order calls for the withdrawal of all soy moratorium information and related online publicity.
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28 minutes ago
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Near-Surface Mineralization Features Grades up to 28,870 ppm TREO and 23.2% TiO2 Across 68,550-Acre Property Belo Horizonte, Brazil--(Newsfile Corp. - August 19, 2025) - Atlas Critical Minerals Corporation (OTCQB: JUPGF) ('Atlas Critical Minerals' or the 'Company'), an exploration company focused on critical minerals for defense applications and electrification, is pleased to announce the filing of a Technical Report Summary ('TRS') under the U.S. guidelines of Item 1300 of Regulation S-K ('Regulation S-K 1300") for its Alto do Paranaíba Rare Earth Elements and Titanium Project ('Project'), located in the western region of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The TRS was prepared by SGS Canada Inc. ('SGS'), a premier mineral evaluation company, and validates the presence of high-grade mineralization for both rare earths and titanium. Geologists Marc-Antoine Laporte and Yann Camus from SGS are Qualified Persons for the Project under Regulation S-K 1300. SGS is well-known as a global leader in testing, inspection and certification of mineral properties and projects. The TRS was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and can be accessed at this link: The TRS validates the geological potential of the Alto do Paranaíba Project which spans 16 mineral rights 100% owned by the Company, all strategically positioned within the Mata da Corda Group formation known for the occurrence of both rare earths and titanium. The geological exploration of the Project has been divided into three groupings for mineral rights, for ease of logistics (Blocks 1, 2, and 3) as seen in Figure 1 of this release. [ This image cannot be displayed. Please visit the source: ] Figure 1 - Exploration blocks of the Alto do Paranaíba Project. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: Key Highlights from the Technical Report High-Grade Surface Sampling Results (809 samples analyzed): Select Drilling Intercepts from Initial 144-meter Auger Program (11 drill holes): Consistent High-Grade Mineralization Across All Blocks: Comprehensive Three-Phase Exploration Program The TRS recommends a strategic three-phase exploration program designed to advance the project toward initial resource estimates. Such program includes 13,000 meters of drilling across the three exploration blocks, comprehensive geophysical surveys including drone magnetometry and LiDAR, as well as metallurgical testing. 'This initial Technical Report for our Alto do Paranaiba Project represents a major milestone for Atlas Critical Minerals,' stated Marc Fogassa, Chairman and CEO of Atlas Critical Minerals. 'We are very encouraged by the consistent high-grade mineralization for rare earths and titanium seen across all tested mineral rights.' Strategic Advantages and Geological Characteristics The TRS indicates that the Alto do Paranaíba Project benefits from numerous strategic advantages for exploration. The Project geological potential for mineralization across a large area, as the initial positive results were seen across many different mineral rights. The mineralization of rare earths and titanium occurred in layers close to the surface thus favoring any future extraction by open-pit modality. And consistent grades were confirmed across all tested mineral rights, with initial auger drilling from 11 drill holes delivering results that validated the widespread mineralization. Additionally, the Project location enjoys robust infrastructure, including power, water, and roads. The Mata da Corda formation is known to host rare earth oxides and titanium mineralization. This geological unit is composed of volcanoclastic rocks from both the Capacete Formation and volcanic rocks from the Patos Formation, with lithotypes consisting of titanium-rich minerals embedded in a clayey matrix. The strong positive correlation between rare earths elements and titanium, combined with the geological unit's high responsiveness to magnetic surveys due to its intense magnetism, renders the deposits highly amenable to geophysical exploration and enhances targeting precision for the Company's planned future drilling programs. The Company's objective, as stated in the TRS, is to 'rapidly issue a resource estimate and, in the medium term, develop an integrated mine and processing plant project for the beneficiation of rare earth oxides and titanium.' The TRS is also available on the Company's website at About Atlas Critical Minerals Corporation Atlas Critical Minerals Corporation (OTCQB: JUPGF) controls a large portfolio of critical mineral rights in Brazil, encompassing over 575,000 acres, and including projects in rare earths, titanium, and graphite — minerals essential for defense applications and electrification. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are based upon the current plans, estimates and projections of Atlas Critical Minerals and its subsidiaries and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking Relations Brian W. Bernier Vice President, Investor Relations +1 (833) 661-7900 [email protected] @Atlas_Crit_Min To view the source version of this press release, please visit
