U.S. Soy Achieves Key Sustainability Benchmark in Europe Independent Verification Confirms Industry-Leading Conservation Practices of U.S. Soybean Farmers

The European Compound Feed Manufacturers’ Federation (FEFAC) has confirmed the U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP), an internationally recognized tool for verifying the sustainability of U.S. soybeans, meets sustainable production standards as outlined in its updated 2023 Soy Sourcing Guidelines.

The FEFAC guidelines are designed to support transparency in soy sourcing for 27 European nations and include a wide range of agricultural, environmental and social requirements. Benchmarking for FEFAC Soy Sourcing Guidelines is facilitated by the International Trade Centre, a joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, aiming to foster inclusive and sustainable growth and development through trade and international business development.

“The FEFAC Soy Sourcing Guidelines cover a wide sustainability spectrum including aspects of good agricultural practices, responsible working conditions and other environmental protection measures,” said FEFAC President Pedro Cordero. “The 2023 update strengthened several requirements, including upgrading the criterion on conversion-free soy as an essential one, and we are pleased the SSAP has once again passed the benchmarking exercise.”

“With updates that safeguard natural forests, native grasslands, wetlands, and other ecosystems, FEFAC’s sustainable sourcing guidelines remain among the most comprehensive in the world,” said Abby Rinne, Director of Sustainability at the U.S. Soybean Export Council. “Meeting these certification requirements underscores the leadership of U.S. soybean farmers in sustainable production practices and U.S. Soy’s commitment to providing sustainable, high-quality soy to international customers.”

The SSAP has been recognized as compliant with FEFAC Soy Sourcing Guidelines since 2015 and has met the conversion-free criteria since the 2021 benchmarking. A total of 33.7 million metric tons of SSAP-verified U.S. Soy have been exported to Europe since the SSAP’s initial benchmarking against FEFAC’s guidelines. In 2023, 99 percent of all U.S. soybean shipments to Europe carried an SSAP certificate.