SOANORTE - The Soul of the Earth

In a world where food security has become a top global priority, there are stories that deserve to be told with depth and soul. SOANORTE, with deep roots in Angolan soil and a legacy spanning generations, is one of those stories. Its mission goes far beyond agricultural production: it's about caring for the land and people, building food sovereignty, and inspiring a new paradigm for agribusiness in Angola.

Human well-being begins on the land. The health of populations is closely linked to the availability of food in quantity and, above all, quality. Among these, plant-based proteins play a fundamental role, not only for direct human consumption but also as an essential basis for feeding farmed animals. Approximately 70% of the protein ingested by these animals comes from plant grains, demonstrating the strategic importance of agricultural production.
In a world ravaged by climate change and geopolitical instability, food security has become a global emergency. And in this context, caring for the earth means ensuring the continuity of life.
The African reality sharply reflects this vulnerability. The continent has become a net importer of food, exacerbating its external dependence in a scenario of rapid population growth. Angola, for example, is expected to double its population by 2050. This situation poses risks to national sovereignty and highlights the need to produce essential food resources domestically. Soil valorization, responsible management of natural resources, and investment in agricultural potential have become strategic measures for survival and prosperity.
It was in this spirit that SOANORTE was born, with the motto "Caring for the land, caring for people." This principle guides the company's mission: to produce sustainably, respecting the limits of ecosystems while simultaneously promoting the health of populations. Through modern, efficient, and environmentally conscious agricultural practices, SOANORTE aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 2 (no hunger), SDG 3 (good health and well-being), and SDG 15 (life on land).

But SOANORTE's history began long before its formalization as a company. It is, above all, the continuation of the legacy of a family linked to the land for four generations. In the 1960s and 1970s, figures such as Paulo dos Santos, Alfredo Panzo, Santos Vanduem, and others stood out as pillars of rural associations in what was then the "Portuguese Congo." They were agricultural leaders with direct ties to the Portuguese government in Lisbon, influential in the coffee-growing regions of Carmona and the Camabatela plateau, Ambaca. Their work represented not just production, but a way of life, a culture, and a commitment to the land.
With the advent of democracy in the 1990s and the achievement of peace in 2002, a new generation of the family, educated abroad, returned to Angola determined to restore this heritage. The first step was the reorganization of small agro-industrial units. In 2012, SOANORTE was officially founded, with a clear business and commercial vision focused on diversifying crops, investing in timber as a strategic resource, and consolidating a modern, sustainable, and competitive production model.
SOANORTE's main focus is grain production. It began with just 200 hectares of corn in 2011, in an environment extremely hostile to commercial agriculture. The lack of fertilizers, pesticides, technology, and financing made the agricultural venture nearly suicidal. Even so, passion prevailed. Expatriate technicians were recruited, local staff trained, and a path of continuous learning began.

SOANORTE’s main focus is grain production.
More than a food producer, SOANORTE sees itself as an agent of social and economic transformation.

Today, SOANORTE has three structured farms: Fazenda Barragem do Manso, started in 2011, which expanded with the acquisition of 3,900 hectares of the former Agricultiva; Fazenda Monte Negro, with 10,000 hectares (of which 5,000 are arable), where 3,000 hectares of grains and 50 hectares of fruit are already cultivated; and Fazenda Esplanada do Norte, dedicated exclusively to grain production, with 3,600 hectares in full operation.
The infrastructure matches this ambition. Silos with a capacity of 32,000 tons of grain were built with support from Banco BAI. Investment was made in irrigation systems and dam construction, essential for mitigating the effects of climate change and irregular rainfall.
Despite the advances, the sector continues to face structural challenges. The national average productivity is around 0.8 tons per hectare, while commercial producers can achieve between 5 and 7 tons. The difference is colossal and reflects not only access to technology, but also technical knowledge, management, and financing. It is in this gap that SOANORTE positions itself as a bridge between the country's agricultural past and its food future.

Agriculture in Angola remains a multifaceted challenge. The dismantling of agrarian structures after independence transformed the sector into an economic, social, and political problem. Official discourse continues to prioritize subsistence farming, ignoring the need for large-scale commercial agriculture, which could ensure food self-sufficiency, boost the economy, and generate massive employment.
SOANORTE, with a clear and pragmatic vision, proposes a hybrid model: uniting tradition and innovation, combining ancestral practices with cutting-edge technology. On its farms, it operates modern harvesters, tractors with GPS, irrigation pivots with fertigation, and real-time monitoring. Soil preservation practices are implemented, with crop rotation, periodic analysis, and appropriate corrections. Forest reserve areas and reforestation practices are maintained, creating windbreaks and promoting carbon sequestration.
More than just a food producer, SOANORTE sees itself as an agent of social and economic transformation. It creates hundreds of jobs, promotes technical training, establishes support networks between farms, and actively participates in the formulation of public policies for the sector. It advocates for the creation of a functional agricultural ecosystem, with incentives for domestic production, logistical support, and appropriate tax policies. It also supports initiatives such as fertilizer factories, limestone mines, blending units, and agricultural laboratories.
SOANORTE's business structure is semi-vertical, allowing control over different stages of the value chain. Grain production—corn, soybeans, sorghum, millet, beans, and sunflowers—is carried out in rotation, preserving soil fertility. Fruits such as lemons, mangoes, limes, and avocados occupy approximately 50 hectares, with expansion planned, especially in avocados, due to their high commercial value.

In the agro-industrial component, the company has a flour milling line and an extrusion unit for the production of crude soybean oil.

In the agroindustrial sector, the company has a flour milling line and an extruder unit for the production of crude soybean oil. The main objective is to obtain meal for feed production, which directly feeds livestock farming. With two slaughterhouses—one for beef and pork and one for poultry—SOANORTE ensures the supply of animal protein with quality control and traceability.
The company's biological assets are equally impressive: 6,000 fattening pigs, approximately 500 head of cattle, 300,000 laying hens, and 80,000 broilers. A modern incubator ensures herd renewal and the self-sufficiency of the production chain.
The story of SOANORTE is, ultimately, a story of faith in the land, resilience, and the future. It is living proof that, with vision, courage, and dedication, Angola can feed itself—and beyond. The soul of the land pulses in every hectare cultivated, in every seed sown, in every life transformed. This soul has a name: SOANORTE.