Round Table on Responsible Soy Association

RTRS Fifth International Conference on Responsible Soy closes with the definition of the document that will promote more responsible soy production

Starting next year, the world will be able to consume responsible soy. This possibility became real due to the approval of the RTRS Standard for Responsible Soy, which took place this Thursday (10) in São Paulo. After the Fifth International Conference on Responsible Soy closing, members of RTRS (Round Table on Responsible Soy Association) – producers, industry representatives and civil society - gathered in the General Assembly to vote on the final version of the of Principles and Criteria for Responsible Soy. This version is the result of work done since 2007 by dozens of experts from around the world working within the RTRS.

The document provides guidelines for responsible soy production for a sustainable development. Legal compliance and good business practices, responsible labor conditions, responsible community relations, environmental responsibility and good agriculture practices are the document’s basic requirements to obtain certification.

This new standard will now be launched in the market for producers interested in obtaining certification. This means that, for the upcoming season, farmers may be able to claim they are producing responsible soy if they adhere to the new guidelines.

The conference also brought a new outlook for producers and stakeholders in the value chain of this crop. The conference’s panels provided examples of initiatives to promote environmental conservation and there were discussions around policies that promote the concept of sustainable governance.

"The multi-stakeholder meeting - producers, industry and civil society - can bring about a new reality. It is possible to produce responsible soy according to the RTRS Principles and Criteria. This event was one where great lessons were learned", commented Jeroen Douglas, President of RTRS.

One of the conference highlights was the discussion about soy-based biofuels. "Those who are interested in the biodiesel segment had the opportunity to learn about key novelties such as the new rules set by the European Union´s Renewable Energy Directive (EU RED), which set environmental criteria," added Christopher Wells, Treasurer of the RTRS.

The creation of payments for environmental services also emerged as a major topic. "There are many forms of compensation to farmers committed to this issue, and the RTRS wants to make these benefits available to its members," said Miguel Hernandez, Executive Secretary of RTRS, quoting the panels that covered carbon credits use and other systems of rewarding those inserted in the soybean chain.

Another important point of the meeting was the presentation about results of field tests conducted in Brazil, India, Argentina, the USA and Paraguay. Several producers shared their experience of following the RTRS’s Principles and Criteria.

RTRS Press contact:

Mariana Seghezzo

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+54 11 4519 8005

www.responsiblesoy.org