The Soy Moratorium and the End of the World Dystopia

Recently, the national media reported that organizations released a manifesto in defense of the Soy Moratorium, warning of the alleged risks of its extinction. Let me translate for the public: international NGOs issued an alarmist note of repudiation - as always - in an attempt to shape the discourse to their own benefit. According to them, the end of the commercial collusion called the Soy Moratorium would represent the beginning of unbridled devastation, a true “end of the world dystopia”. But are these NGOs, which have been manipulating public opinion for decades and profiting from the image of protectors of the forest, really concerned about the Amazon and those who live in it?

I invite the people of the states of the Legal Amazon to reflect: which of these NGOs that signed the letter of support has employed or employs a family member of yours? How much development do these organizations generate in the cities of the interior? What is their real commitment to the people who live in the Amazon? The answer is obvious: none. These groups survive on airfare, luxury hotels, cocktails and “relationships” with executives from multinationals. In practice, the end of the Soy Moratorium will be a great loss only for the parallel universe of these NGOs. Perhaps the “neither-nor” numbers of the IBGE will increase, but not due to a lack of jobs in agribusiness — but rather due to the lack of relevance of those who refuse to make a real difference in the world, but love a PowerPoint presentation of sustainability.

Meanwhile, rural producers in the Amazon, who live and work within the law, continue to pay the price of distorted narratives and restrictions that go beyond what is determined by the Brazilian Forest Code — recognized as one of the strictest environmental laws in the world. For 18 years, entire families have been affected by arbitrary blacklists, economic embargoes without legal basis, and exclusions imposed by companies that signed the Moratorium, without any redress. During this period, NGOs and corporations have reaped the rewards of an image as “saviors of the forest,” while attacking national sovereignty and the rights of producers who work under already challenging conditions.

Defending the end of the Moratorium is not attacking the environment

Yes, I support the end of the Soy Moratorium. Not because I am against environmental preservation, but because the Moratorium perpetuates a debt that we do not have. We owe nothing to European countries. On the contrary, they are the ones who owe us. We created legal reserve quotas and consolidated preservation areas and indigenous lands in dimensions that are unimaginable for these nations. They, on the other hand, made a commitment to financially support our preservation through the Paris Agreement, but so far they have only thrown crumbs and ruminated offensive speeches against our country.

The end of the Moratorium may undoubtedly generate international criticism, but every insurgency against established lies provokes reactions. For almost two decades, our rights have been violated, and the attacks have not stopped. Let's be honest: the Moratorium's own defenders have never defended our sustainability. On the contrary, they have fueled the chaos on which they depend to maintain their revenues.

If NGOs and international corporations really cared about the environment, they would be investing in the people who live in the Amazon, creating opportunities and fighting poverty. Instead, they prefer empty and grandiose speeches at international conferences, while ignoring the real challenges faced by those who work to produce food for the world.

What scares them, in fact, is not the end of the Moratorium, but the firm and legitimate convergence of producers’ efforts against abusive practices. It is the awakening of those who have been subjugated for almost two decades, demanding justice and respect. I hope that, from now on, we will be more attentive and united, so that we do not take so long to respond to those who try to suffocate our economy and treat our people as second-class citizens. Our future will no longer be negotiated in luxury dinners and conferences at the expense of our people.

*Per Lucas Costa Beber (pictured above), president of Aprosoja MT