The German Purity Law of 1516 already proves that the mixture of hops yeast and water guarantees good taste and made beer famous worldwide This is where one of the world's largest green field malt production plants is currently being built A cooperative made up of several companies is relying here on the technologies of plant manufacturer Zeppelin Systems based on the know-how to supply complete plants for malt production for more than one decade Brazilian beer consumption is growing by 3.5 percent per year Yet Brazilian consumers already drink beer brewed from 1,75 million tons of malt per year the country has imported more than a half of the barley for malt production from abroad The rising demand for beer and thus also for malt and barley therefore requires not only the country's own cultivation areas but also new plants that can convert the mass of malt required the drinking behavior of consumers is changing and they are increasingly preferring beer varieties with one hundred percent malt content Coopagricola (Ponta Grossa) and Frísia (Carambeí) have joined forces to build the world's largest malting plant ever built in a single project: Maltaria Campos Gerais This plant is expected to produce between 700 and 800 tons of malt per day This corresponds to an annual production of about 240 000 tons of malt and about 14 % of consumer demand this is the second Zeppelin plant of this kind The existing plant is reaching its limits due to changing consumer behavior and cannot be expanded because there is no more free agricultural land in the surrounding area The Maltaria Campos Gerais project is located in an area that has an additional 100,000 hectares of land available for barley cultivation Process technology from raw material intake to uprooting Agrária has already relied on the renowned technologies of this plant manufacturer for the first Zeppelin plant and the process engineering design convinced the company so that they are now placing an order for the large-scale plant with the same supplier The Maltaria plant in Campos Gerais consists of a steeping building with 24 steeping tanks two towers with five germination boxes each and two kilns To ensure the high throughputs with consistently high product quality from raw material reception to uprooting vertical conveying of the barley into the flow weigher The automatic flow scales from Zeppelin Systems enable precise weighing and the user always has all parameters in view so that the exact amount of barley is fed into the production process and the steeping process can then begin the barley is moistened until it begins to germinate Germination and kilning - high quality and efficiency thanks to sophisticated technologies Germination is a fundamental process step in every malting plant The Maltaria Campos Gerais plant has ten round germination boxes distributed over two 65-meter-high concrete towers each with a diameter of 30.5 meters and a capacity of 400 tons of barley This Zeppelin technology ensures the handling of large volumes since the large plant will produce malt 365 days a year the barley is continuously moistened by air flowing through and ensuring that the barley does not dry out there are two circular kilns with a diameter of 40 meters and a capacity of 400 tons of barley The kilns are located in adjacent buildings Agrária relies on high-performance equipment from Zeppelin Systems - this makes it possible to generate differentiated taste and visual profiles and thus specifically influence the character of the final product a heat recovery system and automation solutions are used to ensure an extremely efficient process the high quality of the components and smooth running of the individual process steps are elementary for the Maltaria Campos Gerais plant This is because the breweries have already planned several large orders in Brazil which are currently ensuring full capacity utilization of the plant Sustainable management for environmentally friendly production In addition to efficiency and profitability sustainability is a high priority at Agrária the plant has heat exchangers to recover the heat generated in production This achieves energy savings up to 20 percent the technology used reduces water consumption Investing in the topic of sustainability primarily generates good partnerships internationally as the customers - large global corporations - also place a strong focus on this topic Cooperativa Agrária is listed with the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform (SAI) and ranked with 20% Gold and 80% Silver level SAI is committed to building a sustainable agricultural sector and emphasizes strong as well as secure supply chains Brazil malting malt houses Newsletter archive and information The description of the species was based on a single specimen captured in Joinville During field expeditions of the research project Promasto (Mammals from Campos Gerais National Park and Palmas Grasslands Wildlife Refuge) in 2018 the researchers captured one specimen of big-eared bat at Palmas Grassland Wildlife Refuge they used mist-nets—equipment employed during the capture of bats and birds—set at the edge of a forest patch When they compared it to the Tropical Big-eared Brown Bat (Histiotus velatus) The unidentified big-eared bat specimen was then collected and deposited at the Museu Nacional in Rio de Janeiro After comparing this puzzling specimen against hundreds of other big-eared brown bats from almost all the species in the genus the researchers were able to conclusively identify the bat as a Strange Big-eared Brown Bat and confirm its second known record “Since the description of several the species within the genus is more than one hundred years old and somewhat vague comparisons and data presented by us will aid the correct identification of big-eared brown bats,” they say enlarged ears that are connected by a very low membrane; general dark brown coloration in both dorsal and ventral fur; and about 100 to 120 mm in total length This combination of characters most resembles the Southern Big-eared Brown Bat (Histiotus magellanicus) in which the membrane connecting ears is almost absent The only known record of the Strange Big-eared Brown Bat until now was from Joinville which is about 280 kilometers away from where it was spotted in 2018 the species is known to occur in diverse terrains from dense rainforests to araucaria and riparian forests and grasslands at altitudes from sea level to over 1200 m a.s.l This increase in the distribution of the species, however, does not represent an improvement on its conservation status: the species is currently classified as Data Deficient by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature is currently under pressure from agricultural activity But there is still hope: “The new record of H which indicates that at least one population of the species may be protected,” the researchers write in their study Moratelli R (2023) Rediscovery of Histiotus alienus Thomas 1916 a century after its description (Chiroptera Vespertilionidae): distribution extension and redescription. ZooKeys, 1174 10.3897/zookeys.1174.108553 Vespertilionidae): distribution extension and redescription are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system Copyright © 2025 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Starbucks – the world’s largest and most famous coffeehouse chain, with 35,000 points of sale in 83 countries – is unable to guarantee that the coffee sold at its stores is not associated with serious labour and human rights crimes such as low wages inadequate accommodation and even child and slave labour At least four properties experienced problems like this while they were still supplying the US-based multinational. The cases are portrayed in the report “Behind Starbucks coffee,” published by Repórter Brasil (available in Portuguese and English) coffee produced in the world At least 14 companies and cooperatives have exported to Starbucks units in the US in the past two years according to customs data accessed by Repórter Brasil It is yet another situation that exposes the limits of the certification market the model is fragile and not very transparent Every year we show cases of certified farms with unregistered workers who are not paid their vacations or benefits,” says the leader of the Coordination of Rural Employees of the State of Minas Gerais (ADERE) Read more: Winery caught with slave labour in Rio Grande do Sul held the ‘Great Place to Work’ seal In 2022, coffee farming was one of the top five sectors in terms of number of reports on worker exploitation in Brazil 39 coffee estates were inspected and 159 workers were rescued from modern slavery One of the highlighted cases is that of the Mesas Farm in Campos Altos where 17 workers were rescued from modern slavery in August 2022 The group included a 15-year-old teenager and two others aged 16 and 17 with requires school attendance and tutoring The Mesas Farm is managed by Guilherme de Oliveira Lemos, who also runs the Ourizona Farm and roaster Café Ourizona in Córrego Danta as well as the Bom Jesus e Pedras Farm in Santa Rosa da Serra Café Ourizona holds Starbucks’s C.A.F.E. Practices seal. It joined the programme a month before the slave labour incident at Mesas as shown by an Instagram post from July 2022. Furthermore, the properties are certified by the Rainforest Alliance Evidence indicates joint administration of the properties Informal workers at Mesas were formally hired by Ourizona after the operation conducted by labour inspectors the employer did not even provide basic tools for harvesting such as a rakes One worker said she had to buy new gloves every four days to protect her hands when harvesting coffee food and accommodation – all in violation of labour laws Workers had no place to have lunch in the field they ate their meals cold or heated them on a can with alcohol they would relieve themselves out in the bush or in the middle of the coffee trees Read more: Risk of slave labour leads certifier to be stricter with Brazilian farms Another case of a teenager working irregularly is that of the Cedro-Chapadão Farm in Ilicínea jointly managed with the Conquista Farm by Sebastião Aluísio de Sales a 17-year-old young man was rescued from modern slave labour on the family’s coffee plantations The inspection operation found another 11 labour violations According to Sebastião’s son Rodrigo Sales hiring the “17-year-9-month-old” young man was “a mistake made by [their] HR [Human Resources] accounting department.” Documents found by labour inspectors indicate that another teenager aged 16 had been hired to harvest coffee that year The young man was rescued from the Conquista Farm rather than Cedro, which holds the C.A.F.E. Practices seal But the practices were the same on both properties and the labourers had also been hired to work at Cedro “The Cedro-Chapadão United Farms are a group and therefore are jointly managed; harvest workers are aware of the work schedule for the season that starts at Conquista and goes on to the other farms as coffee matures,” admitted Rodrigo Sales Inspectors say that the employer did not provide drinking water or protective equipment such as gloves The accommodation facilities lacked bedding The group still had to pay for bus tickets from Irecê to the farms which should have been provided by the hirer the rescued young man said that R$ 400 were deducted from his wages to pay for the ticket Read more: Starbucks supplier farm ignores law and does not provide coffee harvesting machine, workers say the family-owned company Bernardes Estate Coffee it was fined nine times for failing to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) or free first-aid materials a proper place for meals or a water tank protected against contamination José Eduardo Bernardes was fined for 16 violations including not having receipts on payments made to employees and not providing toilets at the workplace Repórter Brasil visited the farm this year and witnessed the repetition of the problems Workers report that they are recruited in distant towns but the contract is only signed when they arrive a strategy used to avoid paying for transportation They also say that employers charge rent from those who stay in accommodation belonging to the family Bernardes Estate Coffee did not respond to questions sent by email. Starbucks confirmed that the company is certified and is under investigation but declined to share details. Read the full statements Another repeat violator is producer Carlos Augusto Rodrigues de Melo the largest coffee grower cooperative in the country and the main supplier of Starbucks according to export data accessed by Repórter Brasil Properties owned by the Melo family were fined for violating labour regulations in 2021 and 2022 In 2021, an inspection found illegal deductions from wages related to the purchase of portable harvesting machines known as derriçadeiras and fuel at the Pedreira Farm in Cabo Verde another farm belonging to the family – Palmital – was fined 16 times for not paying labour rights such as the Time of Service Fund and the 40% fine for unfair dismissal Repórter Brasil found workers from the Jequitinhonha Valley in northern Minas Gerais who say they work on the farms due to lack of other opportunities but need makes the job wonderful,” said a 24-year-old man who had already lost 10 kg in a month The appearance of the small accommodation facilities (one bedroom kitchen and bathroom) shows neglect with cleaning Repórter Brasil found bathroom walls dirty from floor to ceiling which were prepared on a two-burner stove purchased by the workers themselves Employees say that cooking gas also came out of their pockets Drinking and bathing water was stored in an old fuel tank there are no ‘excuses’ for failing to sign formal contracts that respect workers’ labour rights “This doesn’t depend on coordinating public policies In 2020, the organization estimated a 41% gap between the average wage paid in plantations in Minas Gerais and a decent wage, which should cover expenses with food, housing, education, health, clothing and other essential needs, according to parameters of the Global Living Wage Coalition Practices would be more effective if inspections took place during harvest season if audits were truly surprise (visits are notified in advance) The opinion is shared by Adere coordinator Jorge Ferreira dos Santos Filho “If producers are warned that the farm will be audited there is no surprise audit,” concludes the workers’ representative Sua contribuição permite que a gente continue revelando o que muita gente faz de tudo para esconder Receba as investigações daagência de jornalismo daRepórter Brasil no seu e-mail. JORNALISMODiretos HumanosMundo do TrabalhoPovos TradicionaisQuestão AgráriaSocioambientalTrabalho EscravoEnglishEspeciais PESQUISAImpactoSobreO que fazemosParceriasBibliotecaEnglish  PODCASTS  Cova medidaEsperançaJornadasTrabalheira VÍDEOSReportagensDocumentáriosOutros SOBRE NÓSQuem somosEquipeTransparênciaPrêmiosContato Diretos HumanosMundo do TrabalhoPovos TradicionaisQuestão AgráriaSocioambientalTrabalho EscravoEnglishEspeciais ImpactoSobreO que fazemosParceriasBibliotecaEnglish EDUCAÇÃO PODCASTS Cova medidaEsperançaJornadasTrabalheira ReportagensDocumentáriosOutros Quem somosEquipeTransparênciaPrêmiosContato Receba as investigações da agência dejornalismo da Repórter Brasil no seu e-mail. Desenvolvido por Studio Cubo e Design por Paula Carvalho HomeImpactoSobreO que fazemosParceriasBibliotecaEnglish HomeCova medidaEsperançaJornadasTrabalheira HomeReportagensDocumentáriosOutros APOIE Receba o conteúdo da Repórter Brasil direto na sua caixa de email Campo das Vertentes is a coffee-producing region in Brazil located in the heart of the state of Minas Gerais it boasts altitudes of above 1,000 m.a.s.l. and good conditions for post-harvest practices In recognition of its optimal conditions for coffee production, Campo das Vertentes received an Indication of Origin from the Brazilian National Institute of Industrial Property in 2020 To learn more about the region, its high-quality natural processed coffees, and its rich heritage of coffee production, I spoke to a researcher from Embrapa and a producer from Sancoffee You might also like our article on how to roast Brazilian specialty coffee Campo das Vertentes is some 200km south of Belo Horizonte It sits between two geographical water basins providing it with rich and fertile soil that have historically made it perfect for agriculture Professor Helena Alves is a researcher at Embrapa a state-owned Brazilian research corporation Helena was actively involved in the process of applying for Campo das Vertentes’ geographical indication She says that coffee has been grown in the region since the mid-19th century “With the constitution of the Empire in Brazil in 1824 new paths began to open up for the coffee sector,” Helena says “It was around this time when Minas [Gerais] began to be seen as attractive for coffee “Zona da Mata was the first region in the state to be widely occupied by coffee farms some scattered farms began planting coffee plants on an almost experimental basis.” While early evidence of coffee production in the region can be traced back to 1860 Helena says that it wasn’t until 1881 that it became truly prominent connecting the region to the coast and making coffee farming more financially viable.  “The arrival of the railroad boosted coffee growth in the region,” she says “Coffee trees become part of documents such as family asset statements and/or wills.” Helena also notes that the region’s rich history and heritage of coffee production is reflected in how farms operate.  “Most of the coffee in Campo das Vertentes (as with most of Brazil) is natural processed,” she explains “This is actually associated with the strong tradition and history of the region the farms today are very old and traditional with processes that were passed from generation to generation Coffee production here is characterised by family ownership the region’s rich culture is expressed in a number of different ways This includes traditional festivals such as Congado (an African-Brazilian religious festival) All of this gives Campo das Vertentes a strong historic identity – which is similarly reflected in the region’s coffee [culture].” Rural producer Henrique Cambraia is a fourth-generation coffee producer and part of Sancoffee the most prominent coffee co-operative in Campo das Vertentes.  He says that the terroir in the region makes it “quite easy to produce natural processed coffees with high complexity” there can be a lot of issues with the climate,” he adds we have a consolidation of a number of positive climatic factors These mean the conditions are optimal for arabica production.” “All these environmental characteristics make the region suitable for growing coffee,” Helena says “They provide conditions that favour the production of high-quality coffee.” Henrique also tells me about a few of the varieties that are especially popular in the region it is difficult to generalise when it comes to a flavour for Campo das Vertentes coffee.  is a complex interaction between environment we can simplify this and examine what most buyers look for when they come to buy Campo das Vertentes coffee “[The “classic” flavour profile] would be a coffee with sweetness but notes that the “main characteristic” is a “striking flavour of chocolate”.  He says: “Brazilian coffee itself has soft notes of chocolate and nuts – almonds and chestnuts for the most part the coffees in our region are made to stand out by an intense chocolate flavour “The cleanliness in particular comes from the low variance in climate conditions in the region,” he adds that’s what defines Campo das Vertentes coffee – cleanliness He notes that these characteristics make coffees from Campo das Vertentes an ideal choice for espresso blends especially if roasters are looking for sweetness and body Helena also notes that while most of the coffees in the region are natural processed – which accentuates both body and sweetness – producers in Campo das Vertentes are starting to explore a range of processing methods.  and even controlled fermentation coffees,” she says “Even if we only consider the post-harvest method you already have the possibility for a great diversity of flavours and aromas “I also think that buyers will get a pleasant surprise when sourcing from Campo das Vertentes – because the region’s coffee growers do not stop innovating.”  According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations a geographical indication (GI) is a “sign used on goods that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin” Henrique explains that in the process of registering a geographical indication in Brazil “This is confirmation that it is produced in a certain region This shows that in addition to having been produced in that region it has characteristics specific to that region “Having received an Indication of Origin, the Campo das Vertentes Association has been the promoter and holder of a programme with the INPI (Brazilian National Institute of Intellectual Property) and we are moving towards the Designation of Origin.”  Helena says: “A geographical indication is a certification from the Brazilian legislature which is valid in international trade agreements of which Brazil is a signatory This effectively means that a Brazilian indication is valid in other countries just as indications from other countries are valid in Brazil produce champagne in Brazil because this wine can only be produced in the Champagne region of France.” This is good for the producer and the consumer meaning that the producer is more likely to be adequately remunerated for their efforts and quality It is also a certification of minimum standards of quality meaning that prices should in theory increase “Consumers who know about the characteristics of coffees produced in Campo das Vertentes and enjoy them will have a guarantee it was produced in that region with the right environmental characteristics,” she adds She adds that a regulatory council from the local association will also start to monitor the indication This council will inspect all steps of the production process making sure that the coffee is grown according to stringent which guarantees the origin of their product Campo das Vertentes is just one of the many prominent coffee-growing regions in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais the fact that it is close to achieving full geographical indication shows that it offers outstanding The region is popular among buyers for its delicious chocolatey sweetness this makes it a perfect choice for espresso Why not ask your roaster about it next time you buy coffee You never know – you might just find something you love Enjoyed this? Then read our article on Brazil’s specialty robusta scene. Photo credits: Sancoffee Please note: Sancoffee is a sponsor of Perfect Daily Grind Want to read more articles like this? Sign up for our newsletter! Ivan is a Social Media content manager and staff writer at Perfect Daily Grind Want to receive the latest coffee news and educational resources 43,000+ global companies doing business in the region 102,000+ key contacts related to companies and projects news and interviews about your industry in English Minas Gerais has very few earthquakes and most of them are very small (below magnitude 3) Larger quakes with magnitudes above 3 might occur from time to time Based on data from the past 25 years and our earthquake archive back to 1900 there are about 49 quakes on average per year in or near Minas Gerais Minas Gerais has had at least 10 quakes above magnitude 4 since 2018 which suggests that larger earthquakes of this size occur infrequently probably on average approximately every 1 to 5 years Minas Gerais has about 44 quakes of magnitude 2 or higher per year The depth of the quake is unknown.The quake was not felt (or at least not reported so) Minas Gerais has had 4 quakes of magnitude 3.0 or above and 47 quakes between 2.0 and 3.0 There have been also 3 quakes below magnitude 2.0 which people don't normally feel 2025 at 7.09 pm local time (America/Sao Paulo GMT -3) The depth of the quake is unknown.The quake was reported felt by some people near the epicenter.