(Castellano abajo) Ramón Benítez, 77, used to plant soybeans in this area. He decided to stop soy production 25 years ago when he realized that it was toxic. Since then, the forest has been regenerating with native species; the yerba mate tree is one of them.

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Ramón Benítez, de 77 años, solía sembrar soja en esta zona. Decidió detener la producción de soja hace 25 años cuando se dio cuenta de que era tóxica. Desde entonces, el bosque se ha ido regenerando con especies autóctonas; el árbol de la yerba mate es uno de ellos.

Leaves of change: Paraguay’s small-scale farmers see a new future in yerba mate tea.

The Guardian

(Castellano abajo) A resurgence in the traditional drink is offering rural communities independence and a sustainable alternative to industrial soy and cattle farming.

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Un resurgimiento de la bebida tradicional está ofreciendo a las comunidades rurales independencia y una alternativa sostenible a la soja industrial y la ganadería.

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/aug/02/leaves-of-change-paraguays-small-scale-farmers-see-a-new-future-in-yerba-mate-tea

(Castellano abajo) Ireneo Vega is one of the founders of Oñoiru. In addition to producing yerba mate, he also cares for and harvests the association's agroecological sugarcane crops. . Ireneo Vega es uno de los fundadores de Oñoiru. Además de produci
(Castellano abajo) Members of Oñoiru grow varieties of fruit for their own consumption in their homes. Winter is citrus season. . Los miembros de Oñoiru cultivan variedades de frutas para su propio consumo en sus hogares. El invierno es la temporada
(Castellano abajo) In addition to being an agroecological product, Oñoirũ’s yerba mate differs from other yerba mate because it is aged for two years before being packaged to go on sale. This year's harvest will be ready for consumption in 2023. . Ad
(Castellano abajo) In addition to being an agroecological product, Oñoirũ’s yerba mate differs from other yerba mate because it is aged for two years before being packaged to go on sale. This last step is key in defining its quality and unique flavor
(Castellano abajo) Most of the workers who are involved in the processing Oñoirũ’s agroecological yerba mate are also themselves producers of the leaf. In the image you can see Abel Bogado, Lisandro Benítez and Miguel Aquino working through the first
(Castellano abajo) Sapecado is a process that removes excess moisture from the yerba mate leaves through exposure to heat in a traditional giant drying chamber called a barbacuá. Julio Cabrera goes inside to turn over the leaves so that the heat drie
(Castellano abajo) Although in Argentina and in certain areas of Brazil hot mate is also drunk. Consumption in Paraguay is differentiated by the use of poha ñana or medicinal plants. There are to prevent and to heal stomach, respiratory, intestinal c
(Castellano abajo) The Paraguayan landscapes are full of consequences of agribusiness. . Los paisajes paraguayos están llenos de consecuencias de la agroindustria.
(Castellano abajo) Mabel Sánchez is president of Oñondive, a women's committee that is undertaking a project to cultivate poha ñana - medicinal plants in the Guarani language. The goal is to export these plants and use them to make their own products
(Castellano abajo) Zulma Chávez and Ireneo Vega drink hot mate in their kitchen. Both are founders of the Agroeology Association Oñoiru that produces yerba mate. . Zulma Chávez e Ireneo Vega toman mate caliente en su cocina. Ambos son fundadores de l