U.S. Soy exporters continue sourcing high-quality, sustainable soy products to consumers around the globe. Now, USSEC, the American Soybean Association (ASA), and the United Soybean Board (USB) are have announced that more than 10 million metric tons (MMT) of U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP) verified soybeans, soybean meal and other soy products have been exported from the U.S. during the 2016-2017 marketing year.
Sustainability is a key differentiator and priority for the U.S. Soy industry, and USSEC employs various tactics to educate potential customers about the quality and consistency of U.S. Soy. In 2013, USSEC, ASA, USB, and several state soybean boards launched the U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP).
A Commitment from the U.S. Soy Family
SSAP is a commitment to customers by the U.S. Soy family, promising the delivery of quality soy products for human consumption, enhanced feed efficiency and improved overall animal performance. The protocol covers four key components including sound environmental objectives, social responsibility, promoting economic growth, and continuous improvement in technology and cultural practices. In addition to addressing how sustainable performance by U.S. soybean farmers is measured and verified by various government programs, the SSAP also offers exporters of U.S. Soy the ability to obtain an official sustainability certificate, using the Soy Export Sustainability LLC portal, developed through a collaborative process that verifies the soy products they sell are raised in a sustainable manner.
Demands for increased sustainability from field to fork continue to prompt U.S. Soy farmers to improve their production standards; the SSAP is documenting the demand on a global level and U.S. Soy farmers continue to deliver. And deliver they are, as this year’s shipments exceeded the 2015-16 marketing year by more than 4 MMT.
Made with Sustainable U.S. Soy
USSEC efforts, in collaboration with ASA and USB, have provided additional opportunities to communicate sustainability, now providing the ability for food, ingredient, feed, and industrial application users of U.S. Soy to market their products using Made with Sustainable U.S. Soy logo. USSEC rolled out the Sustainable U.S. Soy (SUSS) logo in 2016 as a pilot program in North Asia and the Philippines. As more and more consumers expect sustainable products, corporations are demanding supply chain sustainability, elevating sustainability from a “want” to a “need.” The SSAP provides third-party sustainability verification that helps businesses meet and document sustainability demand, and SUSS adds value by helping businesses adhere to their corporate sustainability policies and supplier guiding principles, thus differentiating themselves from their competition.
It may be only August, but 2017 is expected to go down as another great year for sustainable U.S. Soy exports. Look for the Sustainable U.S. Soy logo to have an increased presence around the globe next year!
