In a landmark move reshaping institutional investment opportunities in Brazilian coffee, Ruiz Coffees, a major Arabica producer, and eucalyptus grower Santos & Dias Group have formed Jacurutu Coffee, a joint venture poised to develop what is projected to become the biggest individual Arabica coffee farm on the planet. Boasting a total investment of R$1.05 billion (US$187 million), the coffee farm will occupy 5,500 hectares in João Pinheiro, a high potential corner of northwest Minas Gerais known for stable temperatures, abundant sunlight and minimal frost risk.
The project will convert former forestry land into a modern, fully irrigated coffee platform harnessing a combination of center pivot and drip systems to secure water for the crop throughout the season. Eldorado Terra served as strategic adviser on design, governance and financial structuring, bringing its agronomic and financial expertise to the partnership.
The investment tally features R$500 million designated for phased land acquisition and R$550 million earmarked for infrastructure, planting and operating costs. Jacurutu Coffee is intentionally designed to deliver on both scale and quality, in sync with the current elevated Arabica prices, resilient global demand and investors’ growing demand for stable, high-performance production regions that offer greater yield certainty. According to a Forbes report, the project also targets full Rainforest Alliance certification from the outset and has committed to preserving one hectare of native vegetation for every hectare planted, a ratio that surpasses legal requirements in the Cerrado biome.
According to Eldorado Terra CEO Gustavo Wagner Ribeiro, who also serves as an advisor to Jacurutu Coffee, planting will begin in 2026 across an initial 600 hectares, with first commercial harvests forecast for 2029. Ruiz Coffees will oversee daily operations, bringing its experience in planting, post harvest processing and commercialization, while Santos & Dias focuses on land, infrastructure and administrative areas. When fully developed, the farm is expected to produce 2.6 million bags annually over 10 years, positioning itself as an important new supplier in Brazil’s premium Arabica segment.
Jacurutu’s geographic and agronomic profile is key to its long-term value proposition. João Pinheiro’s microclimate offers temperature stability and ample sunlight, and the farm’s year-round irrigation is designed to deliver consistency across harvest cycles. Water security has been engineered into the project, with on-farm reservoirs totaling 240 hectares of surface area supporting irrigation needs throughout changing weather cycles, a differentiator as Brazil’s coffee output becomes more sensitive to water availability.
Positioned to serve both domestic and international markets, Jacurutu Coffee aims to emerge as a new reference point for industrial-scale, high-quality Arabica production. With development advancing and planting set to begin soon, the venture stands out as one of the most influential agricultural investments underway in Brazil’s coffee sector.
Eldorado Terra CEO Gustavo Wagner Ribeiro, pictured below, spent some time with GAI News, providing further insights on the coffee farm and investment.
1.) How long has this project been in the making and how long will it take to complete? Has development begun?
The project is on the making for quite a long time. The land was cultivated with eucalyptus for the past 21 years.
The abundant water supply on the farm sparked agronomist and S&D partner Leonardo Costa’s interest in developing an irrigated grain production project to give a better [purpose] to this land.
Two years ago, during my first visit to the farm, I understood that it could be given an even nobler purpose. Due to its altitude, the farm has great potential for perennial crops. The initial idea was to develop a citrus orchard, and we worked for quite long time together with one the biggest orange juice companies in Brazil.
For logistical reasons, the citrus project was abandoned. In parallel, we were already working on the coffee project and negotiations started with Ruiz Coffees to set up a joint venture.
2.) What benefits are expected to the Brazilian economy and could it spur further private investment in the region?
The project has a strong social and economic impact on the region and creates a substantial demand for skilled labor.
There are already some irrigated coffee projects in the region. Not on the scale of Jacurutu, but on a significant scale. Several experiments will be implemented with variables such as varieties, irrigation techniques, and fertilization. We are interested in encouraging the crop in the region, and the results will be available to producers who want to migrate to the region. The fact that it is free from the risk of frost and that yields are double those of southern Minas Gerais is a great upside.
3.) Is there any opportunity for outside investors to support this coffee farm?
Once we have 30 percent of the project implemented, we will consider the possibility of bringing in a financial or strategic investor for an equity stake. [Only instead of grain production]…. raw crops.
The content put forth by Global AgInvesting News and its parent company HighQuest Partners is intended to be used and must be used for informational purposes only. All information or other material herein is not to be construed as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Global AgInvesting and HighQuest Partners are not a fiduciary in any manner, and the reader assumes the sole responsibility of evaluating the merits and risks associated with the use of any information or other content on this site.