Round Table on Responsible Soy Association

This project supports the implementation of responsible soy production, according to RTRS standard, by making operational maps for responsible soy expansion via multi-stakeholder process.

There are two main stages and during the first stage, the project will be focused on all current and potential farming areas in Brazil, especially in High Conservation Value (HCV) important ones.

This project is financed by different organizations and agencies: BACP, WWF, IDH and RTRS; and is supported by several project partners.

From the beginning of the project, in January 2012, we have been working in the achievements of the following objectives:

Objective 1:

A) Create methodology and guidance for broad scale maps.

B) Create guidance for site-level HCV assessment of RTRS Mapping & System.

Objective 2: To produce Brazil broad scale maps for responsible expansion of soy production for endorsement by RTRS, guidance for site-level HCV assessment and definition of biodiversity-friendly practices.

In order to accomplish all project objectives a Project manager was hired in February 2012 and the Technical Working Group and the Advisory Group was set up in March 2012.

The participants of the Technical Working Group and the Advisory Group were selected from an open call for participation from the RTRS Project Manager, identified from academic/professional experts specialized in the topics related to the project and through RTRS/partner organization networks and contacts.

The first meeting of the Technical Working Group (TWG) was held and completed in São Paulo, Brazil, the 9th of May 2012.

First Technical Working Group: Daniel Meyer and Mapping experts in a discussion session.

All participants of the TWG were present (a total of 16 participants, including the project coordinator, a staff RTRS and 2 assistants / students of consultants). After the meeting introduction, the TWG had a discussion session, moderated by the project manager. Two topics were raised:

1: How to integrate the expansion of soy (and economic development) with the conservation of forests and biodiversity in Brazil with the help of large-scale maps and HCVA.

2: Material and methods: what can be achieved in the context of the RTRS and Brazil?

In the afternoon a technical session was given in order to define and approve a first guide for the development of the methodology for large-scale maps and for HCVA assessment & mapping system RTRS. Consequently, a document was delivered by the consultants and the participants of the Board, which was also approved by consensus. This document is still open for the Advisory Group to revise and comment.

During the last session of the day the TWG defined and approved a work plan and more precise timetable for the coming months of the project. It was decided that the Second meeting of the TWG will be held on 10^th and 11st of July 2012.