Responsible soy

Dutch supermarkets choose for responsible soy

The Dutch Food Retail Association – CBL – has launched the 'CBL-Actionplan on Responsible Soy.’ For the production of own brand meat, dairy products and eggs only responsible soy must be used.

When producing meat, eggs and dairy products, pigs, chickens and cows are fed with soy products. The production of soy in particularly South-America can go hand in hand with social, ecological and economic problems. Despite their small and indirect role in the soy feed chain, Dutch supermarkets think it’s time to act and have therefore launched the `CBL-Actionplan on Responsible Soy’.

Recently the Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS) have agreed on criteria for responsible soy production. The RTRS will now start field trials for one year to test the criteria and to develop a certification scheme. CBL wants soy from these test fields to be transported to the Netherlands so that meat, dairy products and eggs of own brand products are as soon as possible produced in a chain that uses responsible soy.

“We want the main stream of soy production to become more sustainable. With the focus on the main stream, we can really make a difference. We want that Dutch consumers can be sure that the products they eat and drink are made with responsible soy. We hope that other international retailers or associations of retailers follow this step”, says Marc Jansen, director of Consumer Affairs and Quality of CBL.

CBL has appointed a number of specific action points which are of importance to realize a responsible production of soy. It’s for example essential that local stakeholders (farmers, labor unions) are better represented in the RTRS, because the consequences of soy production effect them most directly. To protect the environment and human health, the use of pesticides must be closely watched and preferably reduced. Further, CBL supports the Amazon Moratorium to protect the Amazon Rainforest. Other areas - like the Cerrado – can only be used for soy production if it is scientifically proven that it does not negatively affect primary forest or other so called High Conservation Value Areas and land of the local community.

Responsible soy is a new issue on the CBL Sustainability Agenda. Every year new items are added to the agenda and together with industry, governmental bodies and ngo’s projects are initiated  to make the food chain more sustainable. Organic products, ban of cage-eggs, cows in the field, castration of piglets, sustainable fish, animal transport and labour conditions are other important components of the CBL Sustainability Agenda.

CBL – ACTIONPLAN ON RESPONSIBLE SOY

Large-scale production of soy in South-America can entail a series of economic, ecological and social impacts.  Because soy is used in the meat production chain, supermarkets are involved in this issue. A more responsible soy chain demands an international and long term approach. Despite the small and indirect role supermarkets play in the soy feed chain, Dutch supermarkets want to contribute to a sustainable soy production with the following CBL- Actionplan on Responsible Soy.

1.) CBL commits to Round Table on Responsible Soy
The Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS) is a platform of international stakeholders, banks and ngo's to promote the use of a responsible standard of soy production, processing and trade. The consensus recently achieved over the principles and criteria for responsible soy,  enables the RTRS to start field trials in 2009. On the basis of the outcomes of these field-trials, CBL - together with the supplying industry - will announce from when on all soy used for the production of own brand products has to be responsible soy.  

CBL has defined special focus points which must be implemented additional to RTRS criteria.
 
2.) Improving position domestic population
Large-scale soy cultivation in South-America could go at the expense of the position of the domestic population. From conflicts over land rights to bad working conditions on the plantations. CBL wants that the position of the domestic population improves and that their voice within the RTRS is well heard. Therefore CBL wants a good representation of local parties - such as labour unions - within the RTRS.
 
3.) Usage of pesticides
The use of pesticides on soy plantations could be a threat for the human health as well as a threat  to the environment on both land and water. Therefore the usage of pesticides have to be carefully monitored and if necessary additional measures have to be taken.  Soy plantations should not be sprayed when employees and/or their families are present in the fields.
 
4.) Protection Amazon Rainforest
For the protection of the Amazon Rainforest (biodiversity) CBL supports the Amazon Moratorium. This implies that in the products of supermarkets own brands no soy is processed that comes from land that has been deforested in the Amazon Rainforest after 24th of  July 2006. Expansion for soy cultivation during the field-trials may not take place on land cleared of native habitat after May 2009.