USSEC CEO Jim Sutter shared with virtual attendees why sustainability is fundamental for U.S. Soy farmers to maintain and meet the needs for a growing population.
ST. LOUIS (June 17, 2020) – U.S. soybean customers around the world are demanding sustainably produced soybeans, and to uphold that banner, U.S. farmers are constantly adopting innovations to ensure their supply meets and exceeds those expectations, according to Jim Sutter, CEO of the U.S. Soybean Export Council.
Sutter delivered that message to more than 370 international attendees during the annual “International Grains Conference 2020,” a virtual event that assembled experts to discuss the latest market developments in the grains, oilseeds and rice sectors.
During the conference, Sutter gave a keynote address to kick off the “Climate Change and Integration in the Grains Value Chain” panel. The address focused on how sustainable farming practices are foundational to the growth and production of U.S. Soy, and how farmers are doing more with less to help meet the growing food needs for a burgeoning population.
“U.S. soybean farmers are constantly innovating to ensure their supply meets and exceeds the demand by mitigating climate change through safe, sustainable farming practices, and by providing essential protein and nutrition to help feed a growing population,” Sutter said. “Efficiency and conservation practices used by our farmers are not only helping preserve the planet’s resources for future generations but are also helping to make U.S. Soy the preferred choice for food, feed and fuel in a world where consumers across the value chain demand no less.”
U.S. soybean farmers have a long history of creating and participating in programs to help preserve wildlife habitats and improve biodiversity. Always looking to the future, they regularly employ strategies like conservation tillage, crop rotation and cover crops to maintain soil health and maximize the consistent quality of their harvests. Modern tools like moisture sensors, smart irrigation, autonomous and GPS-enabled tractors, drones and satellite imagery help U.S. Soy farmers produce a valuable and reliable harvest while reducing their use of natural resources.
These achievements, according to Sutter, have a clear and quantifiable impact on environmental sustainability. Statistics show that since 1980, U.S. farmers reduced energy use by 42%, and reduced emissions by 41%. The United States has also gained 1.45 million hectares of forest land in the past 100 years, while significantly reducing farmland by 23.9 million hectares over the past 50 years.
The U.S. Soy industry also worked together with a multi-stakeholder group made up of consumers from around the world, non-governmental organizations (NGOS) and famers to jointly develop the independently audited U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP). SSAP is a certified aggregate approach audited by third parties that verifies sustainable soybean production at a national scale. Customers can refer to the SSAP to help meet their own corporate social responsibility needs and consumer expectations. Because U.S. Soy is verified sustainable under the SSAP, purchasers have a competitive advantage when buying U.S. Soy. For example, it has been positively benchmarked against the European Feed Manufacturers Associations (FEFAC) soy sourcing standards, and it was approved by the Tokyo Olympic Procurement Committee for soy sourcing at the upcoming Olympic games, now planned for 2021.
SSAP guidelines cover today’s regulatory obligations regarding sustainable practices, but they also call for continuous improvement. Every day, U.S. Soy farmers find new ways to be more efficient and environmentally sound. Along those lines, Sutter explained that U.S. Soy has established yield and sustainability goals for the next five years.
Based on benchmarks starting in 2000, by 2025, U.S. soybean producers aim to:
“The U.S. Soy industry is focused on constantly growing and improving to develop solutions to today’s biggest problems,” Sutter said. “Ultimately, U.S. Soy farmers are focused on helping both people and the planet to prosper – delivering sustainably produced, high-quality protein to fuel nourishment and to help preserve the earth for generations.”
Brent Babb, USSEC’s Regional Director, for Greater Europe and Middle East/North Africa also participated on a panel on Soyabean Market Development. The panel discussed the impact the coronavirus pandemic, African Swine Fever, and other factors are having on soybean supply and demand in 2020/21.
A full recording of Jim Sutter’s presentation can be viewed here, and Brent Babb’s presentation can be viewed here.
The U.S. Soybean Export Council was a gold sponsor for the IGC Grains Conference 2020.
ABOUT U.S. SOYBEAN EXPORT COUNCIL
The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) is a dynamic partnership of U.S. soybean producers, processors, commodity shippers, merchandisers, allied agribusinesses and agricultural organizations working to build preference for U.S. Soy throughout the world. Through a global network of international offices and strong support in the U.S., USSEC works to build a preference for U.S. soybeans and soybean products, advocates for the use of soy in feed, aquaculture and human consumption, promotes the benefits of soy use through education, and connects industry leaders through a robust membership program. USSEC is partially funded by the United Soybean Board. Learn more at www.ussec.org.
