Rural women in agroecology at Panela Cheia farm and COOPLANTAS

The Landless Workers’ Movement (MST): Nazaré’s farm is part of the Landless Workers’ Movement (MST), which advocates for land reform and food sovereignty. For decades, the MST has fought for land redistribution to historically excluded rural workers and families. The movement challenges Brazil’s government to adhere to its Constitution, which mandates expropriating and redistributing unused land. Settlements like the one where Panela Cheia is located are the outcome of years of activism against entrenched patriarchal and colonial structures in Brazil. 

These settlements are not just agricultural spaces; they are powerful symbols of resistance against a history of exploitation, social injustice, and exclusion. Through land occupations, the MST empowers marginalised communities to restore their dignity, sovereignty, and social justice. Today, the MST unites over 1.5 million people across 24 of Brazil’s 26 states making it the largest producer of organic food in the country. 

A Personal Journey 

Nazaré’s story is a testament to the transformative power of the MST. Like many she gained access to land, training, and community support through the movement. With limited education and few opportunities in rural areas, she initially sought work in São Paulo but faced intense competition. Eventually, she joined the MST and completed several training programmes in agroecology, agroforestry, and medicinal plants. As a co-founder of the Cooperative for the Production of Medicinal Plants (COOPLANTAS), Nazaré sits on the fiscal council, works in seedling production, and manages her own farm. Reflecting on her journey, she shares: 

“I have chosen to work with agroecological practices with the dream that what I do can improve health and well-being, give hope to young people through education, and help shape a more conscious generation that cares for the environment” Nazaré, owner of Panela Cheia Agroecological Farm. 

Women Leading the Agroecological Transition 

COOPLANTAS began in 1995, when women from a Land Reform Settlement – including Nazaré – became interested in cultivating and commercialising medicinal plants. Transitioning to agroecological production in 2000, the cooperative employs around 35 women producing natural remedies, cosmetics, teas, and honeys. As key supplier to the Unified Health System (SUS) COOPLANTAS provides herbal remedies free of charge, with more than 5.000 prescriptions annually, contributing to improved health across Brazil.  

The cooperative’s success stems from its participatory approach, where knowledge is shared collectively. Farmers actively engage in trials to improve the production and processing of medicinal plants, during collective workdays. Multiple exchanges are organised between the cooperatives present on the rural settlement, indigenous and quilombola communities in the region and universities – via courses, workshops, seeds exchanges and events – further advancing agroecological practices. 

COOPLANTAS promotes women leadership with an exclusively female board elected every two years. This decentralised governance model ensures that decisions are made collectively. 

A Beacon of Agroecological Innovation 

The farm’s agroecological design optimises ecosystem services and synergies among all system elements. Each species’ life cycle, light requirements, and appropriate management type are considered to create harmonious relationships, strengthening the overall ecosystem’s resilience.   

The farm nurtures diversity, with more than 40 cultivars flourishing in harmony through the integration of agroforestry systems, native trees, and vegetable gardens. A diverse mix of flowering species, including native plants and long-blooming varieties like margaridão (Tithonia diversifolia), provides nectar and pollen year-round for Jataí bees (Tetragonisca angustula), whose honey is renowned for its medicinal properties. 

Nutrients are recycled within the system, with internal sources such as brachiaria grass and prunings from native trees providing biomass that is grown, harvested, and reused, effectively closing the loop within the production cycle. 

Similarly, soil health is enhanced through holistic practices that integrate seamlessly with ecosystem processes. For instance, contour ploughing follows the natural contours of the land, effectively reducing soil erosion and water runoff, particularly in hilly areas. Windbreaks, created from densely planted napier grass, sugarcane, and banana plants, protect the soil from strong winds. 

Empowering Change

Panela Cheia Agroecological Farm shows how agroecological principles can reshape food systems from the ground up. Operating across multiple scales, from local communities to broader social movements, it demonstrates the transformative potential of agroecology. With strong women’s leadership, community-driven change, and holistic practices, it demonstrates the way to more equitable, sustainable food systems for the future.