04 Sep
2006 - Asunción, Paraguay – The creation
of the first international organization to reduce
the negative impacts of soy production was announced
today at the second Conference of the Roundtable
on Responsible Soy (RTRS).
The new organization is an initiative
of soy producers, processors and traders, as well
as financial institutions and non-governmental
organizations. It is also a response to mounting
consumer demand for environmental and socially
sound soy.
The organization's immediate
task will be to develop globally applicable principles,
criteria and indicators for the production, processing
and trade of soy in a responsible manner within
a period of no more than 18 months. The 200 participants
who attended the conference agreed that the principles
and criteria should reflect issues such as protecting
biodiversity from conversion of natural habitats
to agriculture, better agricultural practices,
and full compliance with labour laws.
“Enough is enough, deforestation
for agriculture has to stop," said Leonardo
Lacerda of WWF’s Global Forests Programme.
"The formal creation of the RTRS and the
commitment of key global players to adopt principles
and criteria for responsible soy is a landmark
decision. The private sector is beginning to understand
that it needs to do its homework, and quickly,
in order to avoid less desirable outcomes such
as product boycotts or the establishment of non-tariff
barriers to eradicate irresponsibly produced soy.”
Soybeans are used in the production
of edible oil, cosmetics, foods, and feed for
cattle, pigs, poultry and fish. The principles
and criteria will provide a market mechanism to
address key negative environmental and social
impacts of soy production and its expansion.
In Europe, for example, soy
traders and retailers have been under attack for
buying soy from producers that are fueling deforestation
of valuable conservation habitats in places such
as the Amazon and the Cerrado (wooded savannahs)
of South America. Likewise, in some cases, the
soy sector in South America has been criticised
for deforestation, illegal appropriation of public
lands, displacement of small-farmers and indigenous
peoples, and the lack of compliance with labour
laws.
"This conference has delivered
what we were hoping for – a clear timeline and
a strong commitment to develop criteria and indicators
to ensure responsibility within the soy supply
chain and most of all, clear commitment from our
suppliers,” said Jan Nicolai of Nutreco, a leading
animal feed supplier.
“This initiative sets an example
of how market actors and governments can cooperate,"
added Bella Roscher, WWF’s International Coordinator
for Soy. "Our host country, Paraguay, has
shown that this is possible when there is political
will."
In 2004, Paraguay passed the
Zero Deforestation Law, prohibiting the transformation
and conversion of forested areas in the eastern
region of Paraguay. In only two years, it was
able to reduce the annual rate of deforestation
in that area by 85 pre cent.
“Soy production and export income in this period
has increased, demonstrating that development
can go hand in hand with environmental protection,”
said Roscher.
END NOTES
• The Roundtable on Responsible Soy (RTRS) was
initiated by WWF and other actors as a forum for
all stakeholders involved and affected by soy
cultivation ?to voice their concerns. It provides
stakeholders and interested parties with the opportunity
to?environment and social NGOs, business and industry
jointly develop global solutions leading to responsible
soy production. These include development of criteria
for the responsible production and sourcing of
soy. The first Roundtable conference was held
in March 2005 in Brazil and attracted a vast range
of players throughout the supply chain as well
as civil society and government agencies.
• The 2nd Conference of the
Roundtable on Responsible Soy was supported by
the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs.
Members of the Roundtable's organizing committee
are:
AAPRESID (Argentine Association of No Till Rural
Producers), an environmentally aware producers'
association.
ABIOVE, the Brazilian Oilseed
Processors’ Association. Its 11 associate members
are responsable for approximately 72% of Brazil's
soybean crush volume. Members include Amaggi,
Bunge, Cargill, Coinbra, Imcopa.
ABN AMRO, the Netherlands's
largest bank with offices in 60 countries, and
a leading financial institution in the field of
sustainability.
Coop Switzerland, a Swiss retailer
active for several years in the field of sustainable
production of food and non-food products.
Grupo André Maggi, a
leading Brazilian soy producer and processor.
Guyra Paraguay, an environmental
NGO, the Paraguayan branch of BirdLife International.
IPAM (Instituto de Pesquisa
Ambiental da Amazônia), a Brazilian environmental
NGO focusing on the Amazon.
Solidaridad, a church-linked development NGO based
in the Netherlands, working on fair-trade and
corporate social responsibility.
Unilever, Anglo-Dutch food manufacturer
with operations in over 100 countries and markets
in over 150 countries.
Bella Roscher / Monica Echeverria
/ Chng Soh Koon
