A final standard for sustainable soy
In 2010, a new step was taken towards the promotion of responsible soy production and reducing the negative side-effects of soy production. The Round Table on Responsible Soy established a Standard for sustainable soy.
Target
To promote economic, social and ecological sustainability in soy production.
Reason
Meeting the growing demand for soy requires more and more agricultural land, putting both family farming and the natural environment under pressure. Sustainability criteria can reduce the negative side effects of soy production.
Activities
- Field-testing of the RTRS Principles and Criteria on small and big farms in Argentina, Brazil, India and Paraguay.
- Development of a traceability system for Responsible Soy.
- Awareness raising and promotion of the RTRS standard.
Results
- After field trials and a national consultation process in producer countries the RTRS established in 2010 a final standard for responsible soy.
- Successful implementation of the RTRS field trials in 4 countries, involving more than 8,000 farmers, covering over 220,000 hectares on which more than 600,000 tons of soy were produced.
- Through the RTRS, many international and Dutch companies have agreed to buy responsible soy.
Facts
Solidaridad's role in the RTRS: chairman of the executive board and contributor to various working groups. Manages the WWF-Solidaridad-RTRS Soy producer support initiative, which includes 2 RTRS field trials in Brazil and 3 in India. Solidaridad co-funds the outreach program to involve more stakeholders in the RTRS process.
Participants in the RTRS: 20 producers or producer organisations, 70 processors, traders and banks, 15 NGOs and 20 observers from the major producer and consumer countries.
