“2023 represented another year full of challenges and opportunities for the transformation of the soy value value chain. The spaces for collaboration and shared responsibilities allowed us to address an increasingly demanding sectoral agenda.
In this journey, the connection between actors, the multi-sectorial work and the constant search for innovation were key factors in achieving achievements and to amplify the impact of RTRS' activities”.
Lieven Callewaert, President of RTRS.
Global Round Table and Membership
Strengthening the membership base
New RTRS Members
In 2023, we welcomed 12 new members to RTRS from 9 different countries and ended the year with over 210 members.
5 Industry, Trade and Finance
3 Civil society organisations
4 Observing members
Find out more about the new members.
UNITED STATES
Adient PLC (Industry, Trade and Finance)
UNITED KINGDOM
The Compleat Food Company (Industry, Trade and Finance)
NETHERLANDS 14Nature (Civil Society Organisation)
DENMARK
Baltic Control Certification (Observer)
BELGIUM
Department of Food Technology, Safety and Health – Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University (Observer)
Fazenda Nossa Senhora Aparecida (Producer)
BTG Pactual Commodities S.A. (Industry, Trade and Finance)
Produzindo Certo (Observer)
SWITZERLAND
Sierentz & Cie Sàrl (Industry, Trade and Finance)
ARGENTINA
Suriyaco S.A. (Producer)
Gapgreen S.R.L. (Observer)
ITALY
Cereal Docks SPA (Industry, Trade and Finance)
BRAZIL
Strengthening the membership base
RTRS Members | Global Community
Your seat at the table
New membership fee structure
In 2022, RTRS members approved a new membership fee structure to encourage producer associations, RTRS-certified producers and local and international civil society organisations to join the round table.
We want to increase membership to enable more RTRS producers and key organisations to represent the sector and participate in the decision-making process of the agricultural global supply chain.
The new membership fee structure was introduced in January 2023, following approval by RTRS members through Written Resolution No 1- 2022, in accordance with article 39(4) of the RTRS Statutes.
Access the new membership fee structure here.
Consolidating the role of the round table
Engagement with European Commission (EC)
– Multistakeholder Platform on Deforestation and Forest Degradation
As a member of the Multi-Stakeholder Platform on deforestation and forest degradation, RTRS was a speaker in the ‘Early adopters’ session.
The Association presented the progress of the RTRS Chain of Custody Standard Reshaping.
Additionally, RTRS met with the International Relations officer at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Environment and with members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI).
RTRS also took part in outreach meetings with the Members of the European Parliament on the Green Claims Directive. These focused on introducing RTRS and learning about the scope of the Directive. RTRS also met members of the Directorate in Brussels, Belgium, focussing on updates on its implementation.
Participation in multilateral platforms
– United Nations (UN) | Global Compact
As a key player in the soy sector, RTRS was part of the Working Group – Sustainability and Communication Projects, Global Compact Brazil. The Association also participated in two working groups, one about regenerative agriculture and the other about traceability.
– Gender Responsive Standards – GRS (Initiative of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe UNECE)
As a signatory of the United Nations Declaration to promote gender equality, the Association was involved in various bi-monthly activities, working groups and proposals put forth by UNECE to refining approaches towards a gender-responsive standard development and implementation to contribute to a more sustained and inclusive growth, necessary for reducing inequality.
– Working Group 4 (WG4) on Biodiversity and Communication | German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUV) and the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN)
In the third year of RTRS participation, the WG4 working group is expanding its scope.
In the future, it will be known as the 'Biodiversity & Consumption' working group. The WG4 will explore the role of sustainable consumption in mitigating the impact of human activities on biodiversity and ecosystem services, while actively promoting actions to protect and enhance them.
Reinforcing networks in Asia & South America
Asia – China
China is exploring how to continue effectively transitioning to sustainable imports of agricultural commodities. RTRS was invited to speak at webinars, where it presented the certification scheme and outlined how the voluntary standard can be part of the solution to reducing deforestation and conversion.
Between April and August RTRS was part of several different conversations:
• Spoke in the ‘EU – China online workshop on deforestation-free supply chains’ hosted by the EU (European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, EU Commission and Directorate General for the Environment - DG ENV)
• Was a keynote speaker in a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) China webinar named ‘Sustainability Tools to promote forest friendly supply chain.’1
• Presented for the German market in the webinar ‘China green value chains’ hosted by China Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center (Ministry of Ecology & Environment), supported by Client Earth and BellaTerra.
1 For further information, it is recommended to watch the linked webinar
• South America
• RTRS and the Confederation of American Associations for Sustainable Agriculture (CAAPAS), the organisation that groups local no-till organisations in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico Paraguay and Uruguay, met to foster the role RTRS plays as a link between producers and communicate the positive impact that certified soy production has for both carbon balance and regenerative agriculture.
• In April, the Association held the RTRS Chain of Custody Workshop in Puerto Varas, Chile. It focused on aquaculture stakeholders. Representatives of the salmon feed supply chain were present including CJ Selecta (RTRS member dedicated to the manufacture of products derived from soybeans with a focus on the aquaculture sector); Kabsa S.A. (Chilean manufacturer of proteins and oils used as raw materials for animal feed); and 40 representatives from the Chilean aquaculture sector such as Ewos, Nutreco,
Biomar, Salmones Antártica, Los Fiordos, Vitapro and Skretting.
• Also in April, RTRS was part of the ‘Gran Chaco Trip’ to Tucumán, Argentina, in a project led by International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Solidaridad and Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina (FVSA) to promote conversion free responsible soy production in this risk area. The field trip visited both certified farms and farms exploring certification to learn more about the impact of certification. Participants included the Fundación Proyungas from Argentina and representatives of the Dutch Agriculture Network for Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay.
• RTRS took part in ‘Towards a sustainable food system: Challenges and opportunities’ – an event organised by FVSA and WWF.
The initiative aims to analyse the role of Argentina in the global context of
production and consumption, geopolitical dynamics and environmental trends in the international market.
• In November, RTRS participated in the Danish Study Trip, organised by Danish Soy Alliance & WWF Brazil. The trip included a visit to an RTRS-certified farm close to Brasilia and a workshop organised by WWF.
Network collaboration
As part of the 2021 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit – GIZ (German Society for International Cooperation) in Brazil and RTRS, a series of meetings (webinars and in-person conference) were organised, which focused on the region of MaToPi –Maranhão (MA), Tocantins (TO) and Piauí (PI). These were launched in 2022 to facilitate networking and cooperation between players in the soy chain, as well as to discuss future actions to promote the growth of sustainable agricultural practices in the region.
As part of this initiative we organised two meetings:
– In August ‘III Sustainable Soy Dialogues for the Itaqui Corredor’
Webinar held with GIZ and CLI – Corredor Logística e Infraestrutura to promote sustainability of the Itaqui – Maranhão Corridor in Brazil. There were 57 attendees from 30 organisations across industry, NGOs and the German food/retail market.
– November 29/30 ‘Sustainable Dialogues for the Itaqui Corridor’ meeting
The second edition of the in-person meeting took place in the city of São Luís, in the state of Maranhão, Brazil.
The event brought together the most relevant actors in the region's value chain to explore the existing actions and initiatives that promote sustainable approaches and discuss the role of each. It also encouraged analysis of possible lines of action and joint working to develop a new common agenda.
Meeting Points
Our meeting points provided opportunities for members and non-members to collaborate, share ideas and discuss challenges facing our sector.
RTRS Meeting Point 2023
Annual International Conference
October 4/5
175 attendees
14 countries
90 organisations
44 RTRS members and 46 non-members
7 sessions/panels
28 speakers
The Conference in Brazil was a chance for all the players in the soybean and corn value chain to get closer to the ground, and get to know first hand the valuable work of producers, while achieving a holistic perspective of the entire supply chain.
It was an opportunity to connect soybean demand and sourcing, learn about the latest solutions and innovations, and create collaborations with others in the value chain. Continued collaboration, learning and connections will enable the soy supply chain to comply with the requirements of the current demanding global agenda.
and Membership
• Some reflections from the protagonists themselves
“There is a real risk that the focus on deforestation might shift away from the environmental aspects aimed at involving smaller producers in the supply chain. I believe RTRS has found a way to do this while also promoting good agricultural practices for non-environmental issues."
Paul Van de Logt, from the Dutch Embassy in Brazil.
“RTRS certification allows us to establish a closer relationship with producers, ensuring that our policies are aligned. This is an integral part of our strategy to meet our commitments, including those related to climate change."
Patricia Sugui from CJ Selecta.
"Dialogue is essential to building an alliance with the European Union. I believe that, as an organization, RTRS is ready to promote this cooperation."
Randal Couceiro from the TEGRAM Itaqui Consortium.
"We understand that RTRS can play an important role by focusing on nature regeneration in the coming years, while also considering society as a whole."
Juan Carlos Cotella from Suriyaco
"I want to emphasize that there is a strong commitment from producers regarding social and environmental issues, and they are fulfilling their responsibilities by showing what they do. Certification is not just a bargaining chip but can also be a benefit for producers from a management perspective."
Access the Meeting Point Report, which summarizes the most important topics.
Cristina Delicato from Cat Sorriso.
and Membership
• Some reflections from the protagonists themselves
There is a real risk that the focus on deforestation might shift away from the environmental aspects aimed at involving smaller producers in the supply chain. I believe RTRS has found a way to do this while also promoting good agricultural practices for non-environmental issues."
Paul Van de Logt, from the Dutch Embassy in Brazil.
“RTRS certification allows us to establish a closer relationship with producers, ensuring that our policies are aligned. This is an integral part of our strategy to meet our commitments, including those related to climate change."
Patricia Sugui from CJ Selecta.
"Dialogue is essential to building an alliance with the European Union. I believe that, as an organization, RTRS is ready to promote this cooperation."
Randal Couceiro from the TEGRAM Itaqui Consortium.
"We understand that RTRS can play an important role by focusing on nature regeneration in the coming years, while also considering society as a whole."
Juan Carlos Cotella from Suriyaco
"I want to emphasize that there is a strong commitment from producers regarding social and environmental issues, and they are fulfilling their responsibilities by showing what they do. Certification is not just a bargaining chip but can also be a benefit for producers from a management perspective."
Access the Meeting Point Report, which summarizes the most important topics.
Cristina Delicato from Cat Sorriso.
RTRS Field trip 2023 to Uberlândia, Brazil
October 6/7
Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
33 participants
25 organisations
8 different countries (Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Paraguay, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom)
After the Annual International Conference, this optional field trip allowed people to learn more about the impact of RTRS certification and discover more about the sustainable supply chain, from the origin of soy and corn to their processing and distribution.
• Some reflections from the
“For many years, we have acted as promoters and facilitators for the expansion of RTRS soy in Latin America. This initiative represents an achievement for Produzindo Certo and its producers, as it demonstrates that, with the support of other actors in the chain, it is possible to successfully implement the requirements of the RTRS Standard for Responsible Soy Production.”
Charton Locks. Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Produzindo Certo.
“The field visit allows for a better understanding of the reality of soy producers. It was also a way for the group of CJ Selecta producers to learn more about RTRS and its members and develop a sense of belonging. At the same time, touring the fields and the plant was relevant for our own employees because they could showcase their work and directly perceive the recognition for their achievements.”
Patricia Regina Campos Sugui. Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) Manager at CJ Selecta
“The companies we visited operate according to RTRS principles and criteria, viewing sustainability as a central component of their business strategy. From Rabobank's perspective, this is very important because, in our view, companies with a comprehensive sustainability strategy can minimize risks and identify opportunities, and by doing so, they are the winners of the future. This is the type of investment Rabobank is pleased to finance.”
Richard Piechocki, Global Director of Sustainability, Trade, and Commodity Finance at Rabobank
Read the report to find out more about the experience.
RTRS Field trip 2023 to Buenos Aires, Argentina
March 17/18
Arrecifes, Buenos Aires, Argentina
20 participants
RTRS and the Belgian Feed Association (BFA) organised a field trip to Arrecifes in the Buenos Aires province of Argentina to connect with the local supply chain and further their understanding of sustainable soy production. After the site visits, certified producers shared their own perspectives about RTRS certification and had the chance to listen to the testimony of students from Martin Fierro Agrotechnology School in Arrecifes.
"Zero deforestation is an important issue, but not the only focus of our initiatives. That’s why, on this trip, we included visits to producers, processing plants, storage facilities, and ports, because we want to know what else we can find behind the RTRS Credits. Sustainability includes three basic pillars: people, planet, and profitability.
During the visit to Francisco Sellart’s farm, it became very clear to us that RTRS encompasses these three criteria. We saw that the purchase of RTRS Credits contributes to local social projects, such as the Martín Fierro agro-technical school. Moreover, in addition to the credits received by the RTRS producers, the certification also contributes to achieving a greater impact."
Katrien D’hooghe, General Director of BFA.
Task Forces
Task Force Brazil
May 4
45 representatives (35 in-person, 10 online)
26 organisations
Task Force Paraguay
July 18
20 representatives
13+ organisations
Task Force Argentina
August 22
38 representatives
20+ organisations
Task Force Brazil held its established meeting in Sao Paulo, providing updated information on the projects carried out by the association. It was an excellent opportunity to delve into prominent sustainability initiatives in the country.
Task Force Paraguay held its first meeting, while Task Force Argentina held its second. These two events brought together producers, agribusiness companies, civil associations, certification bodies and implementers. Both meetings provided a space for connection and dialogue on the most relevant issues and challenges of the multisectoral agenda in Paraguay and Argentina.
New National Interpretations for Paraguay
Paraguay is the sixth largest soybean producer and the fourth largest soybean exporter in the world. It is also the fourth largest producer of RTRS-certified soybeans, with an average of 96,787 tons and 37,795 hectares of annual production in the last 4 years. There are 7 sites* certified under the RTRS Chain of Custody Standard, including 4 ports authorised to receive, process and trade RTRS soybeans.
Following the launch of the new version of RTRS Standard for Responsible Soy Production V.4.0, the Association started to develop National Interpretations of the largest soybean producing countries.
Although the RTRS Production Standard is applicable worldwide, National Interpretations mean indicators can be adapted to each individual country.
The revision of the Paraguayan National Interpretation V4.0 was carried out during the first RTRS Task Force Paraguay meeting. The RTRS Executive Committee approved the final version of the interpretation at its meeting in October 2023. This adds to the Argentine and Brazilian versions, which were approved in November 2022.
Find the new Paraguayan National Interpretation V4.0 on the RTRS website.
*Information updated as of November 1, 2023.
Global Round Table and Membership
Task Force Argentina
August 22, 2023
38 representatives from more than 20 organisations.
Organisations
• Asociación de Cooperativas Argentinas (ACA)
• Basf Argentina
• Bayer Argentina
• Bunge Argentina
• Bureau Veritas SA
• Cofco International Argentina S.A.
• Control Union Argentina S.A.
• Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias (UNLZ)
• Ferias del Norte SACIA
• Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina
• Greenlab
• LDC Argentina
• María Andrea Droffa (RTRS Implementer)
• Molinos Agro S.A.
• Parra Agropecuaria SRL
• Peterson Projects & Solutions Salentein Argentina B.V.
• San Félix S.A.
• SPC Consultores S.A.
• SYD Lafuente S.A.
• Tecnocampo S.A.
• Tercera Parte
• Varteco Quimica Puntana S.A.
Task Force
Paraguay
July 18, 2023
20 representatives from 13 organisations.
Organisations
• ADM CAPPRO
• Control Union
• DAP S.A.
• Moisés Bertoni Foundation
• Grupo de productores de Paraguay
• Guyra
• Senave
• Solidaridad
• Tropical Forest Alliance
• UCROP IT
• UNEP
• Viterra
• WWF
Task Force Brazil
May 4, 2023
took place in Sao Paulo; it was a hybrid meeting that gathered 45 people, 35 present and 10 online.
Organisations
• Control Union
• Cargill
• Bayer
• CAT Sorriso
• Nuveen
• Koppert
• Food Chain
• Rabobank
• Nestlé
• LDC
• Amaggi
• IFF
• Santander
• Bunge
• ADM
• Imaflora
• Fapcen
• CJ Selecta
• NovaAgri
• Agrex do Brasil
• Produzindo Certo
• IABS
• Tecnosol
• CDP
• Cooperativa Agrária
• Genesis Certificações
2 RTRS Certification
Certification
Evolution of RTRS global certified production
In 2023, a total of 2,243,466 hectares and 7,469,027 tons of RTRS-certified soy were recorded worldwide.
In 2023, RTRS soybean production increased by 6% compared to 2022.
Certification
RTRS global certified producers
77.803
Producers were certified against RTRS Production Standard
Number of groups Number of producers
Certification
RTRS-certified corn
In 2023, 115 RTRS soy producers certified their corn production under the RTRS Standard for Responsible Corn Production. This means an increase of 274% over 2022.
They are 24 from Argentina; 88 from Brazil, 2 Uruguay and 1 from Paraguay.
They represent a total of 454,710 hectares and 3,383,541 tons of certified corn. The second year of RTRS corn certification confirms the value of creating synergies and opportunities with producers. It also demonstrates that it is feasible to capitalise on the sustainability achievements of soy certification and continue the process of sustainable production by extending soy certification to a rotational crop.
Kimex S.R.L.
Tos: 12,840
Argentina
Agricola Magdalena S.R.L.
Agroalas S.R.L.
Agropecuaria Dechamps S.R.L.
Agropecuaria Patagónica del Sur S.A.
Caldenes S.A.
Delfino Llobet S.R.L.
El Progreso de Rawson S.A.
Eloy Manera
EPA SAS
Espartina S.A.
Ferias del Norte S.A.C.I.A.
Francisco Sellart S.A.
Gestión Argentina S.A.
Hijas de Juan A Harriet S.A.
Juan José Blanchard
Ledesma S.A.A.I.
Monte Ovejero S.C.A.
Reiter SRL
S y D Lafuente S.A.
San Felix S.A.
Suizangus SAAGCIYF
Suri Yaco S.R.L.
Tecnocampo
Viluco S.A.
Tonss: 211,860
Uruguay
Agropecuaria del Litoral S.A.
Pradoten S.A.
Tons: 14,233
Agropecuária Andrade
Associação Clube Amigos da Terra - CAT Sorriso
Associação Clube Amigos da Terra CAT Sorriso Group II
Bunge Alimentos S.A - Grupo II
Bunge Alimentos S/A – Grupo de Produtores Bunge
Cooperativa Agraria Agroindustrial FAPCEN
Fazenda Nossa Senhora Aparecida
Fazenda Pau Furado
Fazenda Santa Cruz
Fazenda São João Batista
GGF - Agro LTDA
Louis Dreyfus Company – Bom Futuro Agrícola LTDA
Produzindo Certo – Grupo Castrolanda
SLC Agricola
Countries Tons Hectares
Certification
RTRS Chain of Custody certification
In 2023, a total of 414 sites were certified to receive, process, and trade physically certified soy under the RTRS Chain of Custody Standard.
This figure includes 245 storage plants, 91 processing plants, 55 ports, 54 transshipment terminals, and 40 trading offices.
During the same year, 55 new sites were certified in Germany (1), Argentina (14), Belgium (2), Brazil (23), Chile (12), Italy (1), Japan (1), and Switzerland (1) under this standard.
Belgium
Organizations 1 Oleon NV
Sites 2
Organizations
R&H Hall uc John Thompson & Sons Limited Sites 5 Ireland
France
Organizations 2
Bunge Paraguay S.A.
LDC Paraguay S.A. Sites 8 Ports 4 Paraguay
Organizations 1
Cofco International France SAS Sites 4
Brazil
Organizations 14
ADM do Brasil
Organizations 4
Bunge Chile SPA
Camilo Ferrón Chile S.A
Comercializadora Nutreco
Chile Limitada Kabsa S.A Sites 13 Ports 2 Chile
Amaggi Exportacao e Importacao
Bunge Alimentos S.A.
Cargill Agricola S.A.
CJ Selecta Choc
COFCO Brazil Overseas LTDA
COFCO International Brasil LTDA
Danone Ltda
General Mills Brasil Alimentos Ltda
Humberg Agribrasil Comércio e Exportação de Grãos S.A.
Organizations 2 Thai Vegetable Oil Public Limited Company Thanakorn Vegetable Oil Products Co.,Ltd. Sites 3
Organizations 4
Certification
Leading case:
First mass balance supply chain in Chile
CJ Selecta is a Brazilian company dedicated to the manufacturing of soy-derived products, with a focus on the aquaculture sector. It is currently one of the largest exporters of Soy Protein Concentrate (SPC), with Chile one of its main markets.
Additionally, in 2022, the company began working with RTRS-certified producers in Brazil, acting as Group Manager for nine producers covering 24,916 hectares and 95,623 tons of certified soy in Minas Gerais and Goiás.
Shortly after, CJ Selecta took a crucial step towards the traceability and sustainability of its production by certifying its processing plant in Araguari, Minas Gerais, under the RTRS Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard, transitioning from RTRS Credits to RTRS Mass Balance.
In 2023, CJ Selecta’s main partner in Chile, Kabsa S.A., an SPC manufacturer, certified five sites under the same standard, including two ports capable of storing, processing, and trading RTRS-certified soy. This development opened the doors to greater traceability in the SPC supply chain from Brazil to Chilean feed producers.
Thanks to this certification, Skretting Chile, one of the leading salmon feed producers, also certified three CoC RTRS sites in 2023, including storage and processing plants in the Los Lagos region. This ensures that the SPC used in feed meets RTRS sustainability standards, contributing to the supply of ASC or BAP-certified salmon farms in Chile and subsequently to retailers.
Warehouse KABSA S.A.
Market Development 3
Evolution of the uptake of RTRS-certified material
In 2023, uptake of RTRS-certified material increased by 26% compared to 2022. Of the total certified material adopted (6,672,896 tons), 448,218 tons were physical flow – Mass Balance and 6,224,678 tons RTRS Credits Supporting Responsible Soy.
6,672,896 +26% compared to 2022
Countries that adopted RTRS-certified material
Acquisition of certified material by sector, during 2023
Countries 2023
The
South
United
worldwide
Organisations
De Heus Voeders B.V.
DLG a.m.b.a.
Tesco Plc
Sun Valley Foods Ltd (Carg-U)
GISIS S.A
Danish Crown A/S
Unilever Brasil
ForFarmers
Lidl Stiftung & Co. KG
Danone
Arla Foods amba
Agricola Italiana Alimentare S.p.A.
Cargill Agrícola SA – Primavera do Leste
Cofco International France SAS
Cargill PLC
BFA Belgian Feed Association
former BEMEFA
ABZ Diervoeding
Agrifirm B.V.
AB Agri
AR Voer B.V.
Countries Certified material adopted in 2023 (Mass Balance - We Support Responsible Soy Credits) System
The Netherlands
Denmark
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Ecuador
Denmark
Brazil
The Netherlands
Germany
The Netherlands
Denmark
Italy
Brazil
France
United Kingdom
Belgium
The Netherlands
The Netherlands
United Kingdom
The Netherlands
52 new adopters of RTRS-certified material
In 2023, 52 companies from 20 countries adopted RTRS-certified material for the first time.
They adopted 331,740 tons of RTRS-certified material in total (273,323 of RTRS Credits Supporting Responsible Soy and 58,417 tons of Mass Balance).
RTRS Standard awarded the maximum equivalence level against SAI Platform’s Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA), helping to increase industry sustainability.
The Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI Platform is a not-for-profit organisation and industry initiative that helps companies source sustainably grown agricultural raw materials and achieve sustainable production. With over 170 members from the food and beverage value chain, the SAI Platform is recognised globally for the FSA and its benchmarking programme.
The benchmarking process consists of a set of tools that can be used by each producer (regardless of property size) to evaluate and improve their agricultural practices. A global framework and a single reference system focused on sustainable agriculture makes independent assessment possible for every crop grown anywhere in the world.
Based on a review of the RTRS Standard for Responsible Soy Production version 4.0 (RTRS Production Standard), specialised consultants used benchmarking data from the FSA to conduct a thorough assessment. As a result, the RTRS Production Standard is now part of a select group of standards to bear the ‘Gold Level’ equivalent seal and the only one specifically geared towards soy production.
RTRS Production Standard is now part of a select group of standards to bear the ‘Gold Level’ equivalent seal and the only one specifically geared towards soy production.
From now on, RTRS-certified producers can also showcase their ‘Gold Level’ equivalent to all the industries that use the FSA as a reference.
The recognition applies and extends to corn production.
Discover the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform (SAI).
Independent study finds RTRS the most comprehensive standard for protecting against deforestation
A new study highlighted the efficacy of sustainability certification standards in combating deforestation on soy-producing farms in Brazil. The independent study, ‘Mapping zero deforestation certification and private programmes for soybeans farming in Brazil’, was funded by The Kingdom of The Netherlands and praised RTRS as the most comprehensive standard for protecting against deforestation.
Building on the Methodology for the Food and Agriculture Benchmark proposed by the World Benchmarking Alliance, the study ranks each certification and private programme with a score from 0 to 4 across four aspects: compliance with local legislation; strong stakeholder relationships; good agricultural practices; and effective deforestation control. By comparing these, the study concluded that RTRS is the most robust standard among those that were benchmarked.
RTRS was also praised as the most stringent for deforestation control among the audited programmes. This was thanks to RTRS’ strict eligibility criteria and transparency mechanism, where interested buyers can find information on farms’ and producers’ compliance.
In addition, RTRS stands out as the only voluntary certification programme where producers do not face any market restrictions to sell their crops.
Read the study – Mapping zero deforestation certification and private programmes for soybeans farming in Brazil.
Read more about the Methodology for the Food and Agriculture Benchmark.
RTRS recognised as a best-in-class soy voluntary standard system
RTRS’ holistic standard has once again been lauded as both complete and credible, adding value to the sustainability journey of the soy community through its robust and reliable assurance system.
The study, ‘Setting a new bar for deforestation and conversion-free soy in Europe’, was carried out by independent research organisation Profundo, at the request of WWF Germany and the Dutch committee of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It evaluated the top 21 soy Voluntary Standard Systems against 60 key sustainability criteria, including ecosystem protection, traceability, governance, social concerns and human rights.
The study identified RTRS as the highest-ranked VSS, coming out top in almost all categories, including deforestation and conversion, landscape and biodiversity, traceability, and governance. It was also noted that almost all standards have become more robust since 2019.
Read the report – Setting a new bar for deforestation and conversion free soy in Europe.
New enhanced and more functional version of the Online Platform
In April, an updated version of the Online Platform was launched with new functionalities and usability improvements. The upgrade provides RTRS with state-of-the-art technology to face the upcoming challenges and technological needs of an increasingly demanding international agenda in terms of information and traceability requirements.
The new version of Online Platform also has simple, but effective, design updates that enhance users’ browsing experience.
The new functionalities include:
• Renewed report setting and architecture to access relevant data.
• Increased functionality of reports, including the possibility of exporting data and historical records in downloadable Excel files.
• Easy visualisation of historical records of RTRS-certified material volume balances and transactions.
• Improved data security and platform performance.
Try out the new version of the Online Platform.
Executive Board
INDUSTRY, TRADE AND FINANCE
LIEVEN CALLEWAERT (President)
Alliance4Soy Belgium
TACIANO CUSTODIO (Treasurer) Rabobank Brasil
GERHARD ADAM Bayer AG Germany
LUKAS VOGT
ACT Commodities (Vice-president) The Netherlands
KOBUS PIENAAR
Woolworths Holdings
Limited South Africa
South Africa PRODUCERS
GISELA REGINA INTROVINI (Vice-president)
FAPCEN
Brazil
ENRIQUE MOLAS
Soybean Producers of Paraguay Paraguay
JUAN QUAINE
Salentein Argentina B.V. Argentina
YOGESH DWIVEDI
Madhya Bharat Consortium of Farmers Producer Company Limited (MBCFPCL) India
