Blairo Maggi

Blairo Borges Maggi (born 29 May 1956) is a Brazilian billionaire businessman, and former governor of the state of Mato Grosso.

Blairo Maggi
Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply
In office 12 May 2016 – 1 January 2019
President	Michel Temer
Preceded by	Kátia Abreu
Succeeded by	Tereza Cristina
Senator for Mato Grosso
In office 1 February 2011 – 12 May 2016
Governor of Mato Grosso
In office 1 January 2003 – 31 March 2010
Vice Governor	Iraci França Silval Barbosa
Preceded by	Rogério Salles
Succeeded by	Silval Barbosa
Personal details
Born	Blairo Borges Maggi (1956-05-29) 29 May 1956 (age 69) Torres, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Party	PP (2016–present)
Other political affiliations	PR (2006–2016) PPS (2001–2006)
Spouse	Terezinha Maggi
Children	3
Education	Federal University of Paraná

Maggi owns the Amaggi Group, a large company that harvests, processes, and exports soybeans, and owns soy terminals, highways, and waterways.

Early life

Blairo Borges Maggi was born in Torres, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, the son of Andre Maggi, founder of the Amaggi Group. He graduated from Federal University of Paraná, majoring in agronomy.

Career

Maggi is the world's largest soybean producer.^[1] His accusers hold him responsible for the destruction of the Amazon rainforest. His defenders say he is taking Brazil forward. In this respect he is unapologetic, telling The New York Times in 2003:^[2] "To me, a 40 percent increase in deforestation doesn't mean anything at all, and I don't feel the slightest guilt over what we are doing here [...] We're talking about an area larger than Europe that has barely been touched, so there is nothing at all to get worried about".

Maggi received the Golden Chainsaw Award in 2006 from Greenpeace for being the Brazilian who most contributed to the destruction of the Amazon Rainforest.^[3]

In 2015, Maggi's net worth was estimated by Forbes at US$1.2 billion, based on his 16% stake in Grupo Andre Maggi.^[4]

Paradise Papers

See also: Paradise Papers

In November 2017 an investigation conducted by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalism cited his name in the list of politicians named in "Paradise Papers" allegations.^[5]