Brazil’s new frontier is transforming its fortunes — but at what cost?

The Brazilian state Mato Grosso is riding an agricultural boom of green gold. The area has become a leading producer of soybeans thanks to increased demand from China, turning the industry into a beacon of hope as it's forecast to drive Brazil’s economic development. But, as many flock to the area for a stake in the riches and put stress on the surrounding environment, Bryan Harris considers: is the state destined to struggle or thrive when keeping up with soaring demand? “With the nation troubled by an identity crisis, those who live and work in Mato Grosso champion a different narrative. Their frontier land offers a story of hope and opportunity. It is, says Francisco Olavo Pugliesi de Castro of Famato, a group that represents agricultural producers in the state, 'a new Brazil that even Brazilians don’t know about'.”