April 9, 2024

 

Inaugural US Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol annual report released

 

The US Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP) has released "The Positive Momentum of Sustainable U.S. Soy", a comprehensive sustainability report on the 10-year history and growth of international US soy shipments verified by the SSAP.

 

The SSAP is a tool that aggregates sustainability and conservation principles to verify sustainable soy production on US soybean farms. It was created in 2014 to provide credible information and assurance to US soy customers that the soy they purchase is sustainably produced.

 

"The US soy supply chain and its customers share a desire to understand one another and work together for sustainable solutions," said Jim Sutter, chief executive officer of the US Soybean Export Council (USSEC). "This communication and partnership is driving the ever-increasing demand and momentum for sustainable US soy."

 

In 2023, a record 44,480,427 metric tonnes – 70% of all US soy exports – were shipped with an SSAP certificate, a 56.44% increase in SSAP shipments over 2021. US soy's carbon footprint is the lowest in the world when factoring in cultivation impact and land-use change versus other soy, plant proteins and vegetable oils.

 

Consumer-facing packaging labels verifying that products are made with "Sustainable US Soy" (SUSS) or "Fed with Sustainable US Soy" are also seeing an increase in use worldwide. More than 1,000 products worldwide currently feature licensed SUSS labels.

 

"Sustainability is not just a trend but something that creates long-term value for companies," said Chulhoon Lee, purchasing manager at Sajo Daerim Corporation in Seoul, Korea. "We know that using the "Sustainable US Soy" logo is a great opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to sustainability."

 

The 2023 SSAP report also highlights sustainability milestones achieved by US soybean farmers, successful industry collaborations and progress toward US Soy's 2025 sustainability goals, which include:

 

    - Reduction in land use impact by 10%;

 

    - Reduction in soil erosion by 25%;

 

    - Increased energy efficiency by 10%;

 

    - Reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions by 10%.

 

- USSEC