RTRS MEMBERSHIP 2023
We invite you to learn more about the new organizations that joined the global, multistakeholder roundtable the first semester of 2023.
Industry, Trade and Finance Constituency
Adient PLC is a manufacturer of automotive seating and interiors. They use soy-based products in some of their foam cushion products. World Wildlife Fund and Global Canopy As part of their commitment to understanding how they
can reduce the impact on deforestation, they are working with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Global Canopy as a trusted team of on-the-ground resources while also collaborating with other stakeholders to find potential solutions and alternatives.
“Adient PLC is actively working to create more transparency in their supply chain with respect to forest commodities and we believe that joining the RTRS will facilitate this process by providing education, tools and introductions to other stakeholders” said Mark Proulx, EHS Systems and Sustainability Manager.
"Cereal Docks is an industrial group based in Northern Italy and active in the primary agro-industrial processing since 1983, producing ingredients including meals, oils and lecithin derived from
oilseeds (soy, sunflower and rapeseed) and grains (corn, wheat, barley) for applications in foods, animal nutrition, pharma, cosmetics and technical sectors.
Giorgio Dalla Bona, CEO at Cereal Docks International Spa. explains that the company’s decision to join RTRS stems from its interest in taking a further step towards a more sustainable future. “We have been involved in this sector for many years, and we have seen how agricultural commodity markets are moving towards more sustainable productions around the world. At Cereal Docks, we believe in and are committed to transparency across the whole supply chain."
SSierentz & Cie. is a Swiss-based business group operating in the agri-food sector. It was founded in 2010 by members of the Louis-Dreyfus family and senior alumni of the Louis-Dreyfus group.
The group is active globally in two complementary businesses: i) Merchandizing of agricultural marketing and proprietary trading and ii) Agricultural land ownership and farming operations with offices in 11 countries and employing more than 1300 people worldwide.
Sierentz & Cie is focused on connecting supply and demand of agricultural products responsibly and to elevate environmental and social standards across our logistics chain. In particular, Sierentz launched a soybeans merchandizing desk based in Brazil in 2021 and they expect soybeans to become a key product for Sierentz's merchandizing activities in the coming years.
As for the motivation that led the company to join RTRS, Jean-Christian Fages, Global Head of Execution, says: “As we strive to operate at the highest standards of sustainability, it is important to be part of RTRS so we can cooperate with our peers and partners across the soybeans value, making sure we implement industry best practices in our growing business."
Established in 2021, The Compleat Food Group (TCFG) produces private brand products and leading brands such as Pork Farms, Wall’s Pastry, Squeaky Bean®, Unearthed® and Vadasz. The
result of Addo Food Group, Winterbotham Darby and Wrights Food Group merger, it supplies most of the UK’s food retailers and many food service outlets.
“Soy is a key commodity in our supply chain. While we don’t buy soy directly, it comes to us embedded into the raw materials we use, particularly animal protein such as pork and chicken,” explains David Moore, ESG Director at The Compleat Food Group.
“Given the importance of soy in our supply chain, we want to be part of the solution to deforestation, which is why we joined RTRS. With the collaboration of the entire food sector, we hope to improve the sustainability of the soy that goes into our raw materials”, adds Moore.
Civil Society Organizations Constituency
I4NATURE’s mission is to mobilize the world, starting by taking the youth perspective and spreading the message to opinion leaders to move towards future-proof solutions. I4NATURE is a
small NGO in the Netherlands that is becoming a cooperative, working on assignments from relevant companies and government grants.
”I4NATURE joins RTRS to empower young people and put them in the driver’s seat for a sustainable future in the soy value chain,”, said Xander Beks, I4NATURE CEO. “Our motivation to join RTRS comes after participating in the RTRS 2022 Meeting Point in Germany, where we recognized the value we could contribute with the knowledge of the new generations,””, adds Beks.
Producers Constituency
SuriYaco SRL is a pioneering agricultural company in the Gran Chaco Region, more precisely in the provinces of Santiago del Estero and Chaco, Argentina, which has been producing soybeans, corn, wheat, chickpeas and sunflower for more than 22 years. The
organization has a strong environmental and social commitment: it actively works with different organizations to promote and increase biodiversity and for the development of the people and communities where it carries out its activities.
"The motivation that drives us to join RTRS as members stems from our commitment to disseminate the productive, environmental and social characteristics of the Gran Chaco region of Argentina, and our focus on the opportunities and challenges that this area has for the sustainable supply of products and regional development," says
Juan Carlos Cotella, Managing Partner of SuriYaco SRLObserving Members:
Baltic Control Certification – A part of Apave Group is an accredited certification company based in Denmark specialized in animal welfare,
sustainability, food and feed certifications across the World. The company was founded in 1980 and has branches and partners in 52 countries.
“The motivation for Baltic Control Certification to join the RTRS has been to strengthen our position in all areas of environmental sustainable solutions including Responsible Soy”. says Karina Nielsen, CEO of Baltic Control Certification. In this regard, Nielsen adds: “Our goal is to ensure that the audits performed by Baltic Control® Certification contribute to increase awareness and inspiration because we believe that it is our duty not only to evaluate against the audited standards, but also to contribute to environmental improvements and sustainability in general.”
GapGreen promotes and develops projects based on nature, together with the agri-food chain, focusing on the farmer and on sustainable demand. We help companies in the sector meet their sustainable sourcing objectives through the implementation of strategic programs in their supply chain, always
with a focus on farmers. Our field of expertise is project development and execution. We work in collaboration with companies and organizations in the agri-food sector at a global level, with a strong presence in Latin America and Europe. .
“We believe that the synergy with RTRS and its members will allow us to help farmers and companies improve the implementation of practices and programs based on the expansion and adoption of certification globally,” says Tomas Mata, Managing Partner of Gap Green.
“GapGreen believes that nature-based solutions are the key to the future growth and development of companies and their supply chains. RTRS is a global reference organization providing clear environmental, economic and social benefits for farmers and stakeholders in the soy and corn industry,” adds Mata.
Ghent university is more than 200 years old, offers more than 200 programs and conducts in-depth research within a wide range of scientific domains. The Department of Food Technology, Safety,
and Health is one of the eight departments of the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, one of the life science faculties.
“Considering soy is the world’s most important protein source of food and feed, the Department of Food Technology, Safety, and Health, wanted to become an RTRS member to keep updated on the Association´s evolution, on how criteria are met, on new legislation and how RTRS deals with it,” states Prof. Mia Eeckhout, professor of the Department Food Technology, Safety and Health.
responsiblesoy.org
