Quality of Exported Mate & Diversification of Agricultural Products

Taking place in Turvo, Paraná, in the south of Brazil, the main focus of the project was to support familial farmers from the cooperative Coopaflora, ensuring economic viability of their activity. Through this project, a new method of the “sapecagem” process was adopted, which consists of realising the thermal shock of the mate with hot water instead of direct flame contact. The project has successfully established a new technology to produce Yerba Mate without PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) and without Anthraquinone, which can be dangerous for the final consumer.

Among the actions of the project, there was the application of Organic and Fairtrade certifications, thus guaranteeing better incomes and better work conditions for the local farmers involved. Training of producers on new production technologies took place as well as the creation of a breeding ground for cultivating and distributing cuttings to producers.

Beginning of the project: July 2016

End of the project: June 2018