An official sustainability certification for U.S. soy was recently launched by the U.S. Soybean Export Council – providing exporters with verification that the soy products they sell on the world market are raised in a sustainable manner. The certification is verified by the U.S. Soybean Sustainability Assurance Protocol – which was developed by the United Soybean Board, USSEC and the American Soybean Association through a multi-stakeholder process to ensure the methodologies for measuring sustainable performance are thorough, transparent and credible. USB farmer-leader Laura Foell says it’s essential to show the rest of the world what U.S. soybean growers are doing with regard to best management practices on the farm and best social practices in the community. Foell notes farmers are doing the right thing and striving for continuous improvement – and customers need to know that.
The sustainability certification is based on farmer participation in U.S. farm programs. According to USSEC – 95-percent of U.S. farms currently participate. USDA estimates of total soybean supply are therefore multiplied by point-95 to determine U.S. sustainable soy supply. According to USB – the sustainability assurance protocol provides proof of reductions in carbon emissions, energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and soil erosion per acre of soybeans grown and per bushel of soybeans produced in the U.S. Certification is done at shipment point by Soy Export Sustainability, LLC based on an aggregate system representing nationwide soybean production.
USSEC, USB and ASA are introducing their sustainability assurance protocol and sustainability certification system through a series of meetings around the world this fall. They are holding meetings with soy customers in the Netherlands, Germany, Turkey and China.
Source: NAFB News Service