October 31, 2013
US Soy Export Council launches certification for sustainably grown soy
The US Soy Export Council (USSEC) launched an official sustainability certification for US soy that provides 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 US Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP). This protocol was developed by the United Soy Board (USB), USSEC and the American Soy Association (ASA) through a multi-stakeholder process to ensure the methodologies for measuring sustainable performance are thorough, transparent and credible. Creation of the SSAP and its official sustainability certification for exported soy products is a strategic move by these farmer-led national soy organisations to assure international customers that US farmers raise soy with high sustainability performance.
"It is essential that we show the rest of the world what we are doing with regard to best management practices on the farm and best social practices in the community," says Laura Foell, Schaller, Iowa, farmer and USB farmer-leader.
The sustainability certification is based on farmer participation in US farm programmes. Currently 95% of US farms participate, according to USSEC. Thus, the USDA estimates of total soy supply are multiplied by 0.95 to determine US sustainable soy supply. The SSAP provides proof of reductions in carbon emissions, energy use, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and soil erosion per acre of soy grown and per bushel of soy produced in the US.
Certification is done at shipment point by Soy Export Sustainability, LLC, based on an aggregate system representing nationwide soy production.
This fall, the farmer-led organisations that constitute the US soy family - USSEC, USB and ASA - are introducing their sustainability assurance protocol and sustainability certification system through a series of meetings around the world. Meetings with soy customers are being held in the Netherlands, Germany, Turkey and also US soy farmers' largest market - China.
The 69 farmers who serve on the USB board of directors oversee the investments of the soy checkoff to maximise profit opportunities for all US soy farmers. These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds to increase the value of US soymeal and oil, to ensure US soy farmers and their customers have the freedom and infrastructure to operate, and to meet the needs of US soy's customers. As stipulated in the federal Soy Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff.
