Much of the focus on sustainability in agriculture today is on the preservation of finite resources — water, soil and nutrients — for future generations. When asked about sustainability, many farmers emphasize this point.
“Sustainability is continually improving the soil, land and overall health of my crop, to make things better for myself, and for my kids if they decide to farm one day,” says Iowa farmer Brock Hansen.
In addition to demonstrating their understanding of and commitment to sustainability, U.S. farmers are now being asked to tell their sustainability stories. A general public with an increasing interest in food wants to know how farmers achieve continuous improvement in search of greater efficiency.
Consumer and Customer Influences
Today’s consumers and soybean customers have spoken loudly in support of sustainability.
Examples of this include soybean processors like ADM, Bunge and Cargill, each of which has sustainability initiatives in place. Additionally, food companies like General Mills, Kraft and Unilever have pledged to source sustainably produced raw materials.
This is an opportunity for U.S. soybean farmers to realize more value for their crop simply by showcasing their current sustainability performance.
U.S. Farmers Have an Advantage
Iowa farmer Kellie Blair points out that sustainability is nothing new.
“The basics of sustainability are the same as they were 100 years ago,” she explains. “We still need to maintain our profitability while maintaining the integrity of the land.”
U.S. soybean farmers already lead the world in sustainability. With 95 percent of U.S. soybean farmers participating in conservation programs, they have a head start on other farmers from around the world.
Further good news comes in the form of the Soybean Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP). The SSAP offers U.S. soybean farmers a means to aggregate what they’re doing as a group and then share the results with the customers of U.S. soybeans. Developed by the American Soy Family—the American Soybean Association, the Qualified State Soybean Boards, the U.S. Soybean Export Council and the United Soybean Board—SSAP has already been accepted as an acceptable criteria for sustainability by soybean customers across the world.
Economic Benefits of Sustainability
One aspect of sustainability that tends to get overlooked is the economic impact.
Indiana farmer Brian Scott believes that sustainability can have a positive impact on both the environment and the farmer’s balance sheet.
“More often than not, treating the soil well can also be good for your checkbook,” he says. “For example, if I can improve the organic matter of my soil just a little bit, then it can hold and make available more nutrients. That means I can apply less fertilizer.
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