Welcome to Mato Grosso!
Today we flew from São Paulo to Cuiabá - the capital city of Mato Grosso.
Upon arrival, we stopped for lunch at Lélis Peixaria — a rodízio-style fish restaurant known for its local freshwater fish and alligator dishes.
What is Rodízio?
Rodízio is a Brazilian all-you-can-eat, tableside dining style where dishes are continuously served until you signal you’re done.
Lélis puts a regional spin on it, focusing exclusively on Amazon and Pantanal freshwater fish rather than the traditional steakhouse format.
I was skeptical of the fried sardine but gave it a whirl. Salty, crunchy, and surprisingly good — though the face I made while crunching suggested otherwise.
We also had pirarucu ribs — yes, that’s a fish, not a typo. One of the largest freshwater fish in the world, capable of reaching 3 meters in length (10ft) and 100–200 kg (220-440lbs).
Odds are a few of you reading this own pirarucu-skinned boots, thanks to its large, distinctive scales.
Welcome to Mato Grosso, where everything operates at a different scale - no pun intended.
APROSOJA: The Voice of Mato Grosso Farmers
After lunch, we headed to APROSOJA Mato Grosso headquarters in Cuiabá.
What is APROSOJA?
Non-profit representing soybean and corn farmers across Mato Grosso
9,000+ members with 35 regional centers statewide
Funded through mandatory checkoff: ~12 cents (BRL) per 60kg bag goes to state-run institute, then distributed to APROSOJA (~$0.01/bushel)
Democratic structure: one farmer, one vote—whether you farm 100 hectares or 100,000
Fun Fact: Most APROSOJA members farm under 500 hectares (≈1,235 acres) — considered small by Mato Grosso standards, where optimal machinery efficiency typically requires 800–900 hectares (2,000+ acres).
Mato Grosso: Brazil's Agricultural Powerhouse
The numbers tell the story of why this state matters to global grain and oilseed markets.
Size Matters
Mato Grosso spans ~903,000 km² (≈223 million acres) — larger than France and Germany combined.
If Mato Grosso were a country, it would rank among the largest agricultural producers globally, driven by sheer land scale and double-crop intensity.
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