Marta do Carmo

Brazilian environmentalist who pioneered sustainable agriculture in the Amazon rainforest

Marta do Carmo (b. 1975) is a Brazilian agronomist and environmental leader who developed innovative agroforestry techniques in the Amazon region. Born in Rondônia state, she witnessed the devastating effects of cattle ranching on indigenous communities during the 1980s deforestation boom. After studying sustainable agriculture at the University of São Paulo, she founded AgroAmazonica Institute in 1998 to promote crop diversification practices that protect rainforest ecosystems. Her research created a cocoa cultivation model that increased yields by 300% while preserving biodiversity, leading to partnerships with 120+ local cooperatives. The Amazonian Crop Rotation Handbook (2003) became a standard text for rainforest conservationists. Do Carmo's advocacy led to Brazil's 2005 Forest Code reforms, which now require 80% legal reserve areas on rural properties. She has trained over 5,000 farmers through her Amazon Future Fellowship, winning the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2009. Her documentary Roots of Resilience (2012) highlights traditional farming knowledge, and she currently advises the UN's REDD+ program on climate-smart agriculture strategies.