Bright Ideas: How Standardizing Sustainability is Reshaping Global Soy 

At Soy Connext 2026 in Chicago, global agricultural leaders converged around a clear reality: sustainability has officially shifted from a secondary corporate goal into a primary driver of the global soy trade. Across two panel discussions, experts from soybean crushing, aquaculture feed production, the European feed industry and consumer packaged goods (CPG) demonstrated how environmental accountability is transforming the value chain. 

While regulations like the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) command headlines, practical market demand, verified Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data and consumer trust signals are what actively drive daily commercial decisions. 

Key Sustainability Takeaways from the Panels 

Sourcing: Low-Carbon Advantages and Data Harmonization 

In the supply chain, carbon footprint values and land-use dictate procurement strategies. Soon-Bin Neoh, Ph.D., managing director of Malaysia-based Soon Soon Group, an integrated grain, oilseed, feed and oil processing business, detailed how buyer expectations prioritize low-carbon raw materials. Sourcing roughly 80% of its soybeans from the U.S., Soon Soon’s crushing and feed-milling operations rely on verified environmental profiles to satisfy major multinational clients like Nestlé Purina. 

Neoh noted that replacing high-emission pet food inputs like beef meal with U.S. soybean meal significantly reduces Scope 3 emissions while lowering raw material costs. 

“This is not an option; it’s a necessity for future business,” Neoh stressed, noting that while potential EUDR non-compliance fines (up to 4% of global turnover) demand attention, direct customer demand dictates daily purchasing. 

For buyers, evaluating these claims requires standardized environmental data. Eduardo Coronas Trinler, technical director at BioMar Ecuador, an aquaculture feed producer sourcing 100% U.S. soybean meal for its 400,000-ton annual output, emphasized that unstandardized supplier reports often hide critical variables like land-use change. Reputable tools like GFLI allow buyers to compare raw materials fairly without auditing delays. 

“We’re the only feed mill in Ecuador sourcing one hundred percent U.S. soybean meal, and this is driven by sustainability,” said Coronas Trinler. “We’ve taken operational and strategic decisions based on the sustainability profile of the raw materials.”  

Representing European feed manufacturers, Claus Saabye Erichsen, Secretary General, the Danish Grain, Feed and Seed Association, and vice president of the European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation (FEFAC), addressed the policy environment. He highlighted the tension between widely adopted industry solutions, such as FEFAC’s Soy Sourcing Guidelines, and rigid government mandates like the EUDR. While voluntary guidelines take a holistic view covering conversion-free land use, greenhouse gas emissions and good agricultural practices, top-down regulations often impose narrow criteria that can disrupt trade flows. 

The Sustainable U.S. Soy Label and Consumer Trust 

While procurement relies on LCA data to manage risk and compliance, consumer brands are leveraging these sustainability metrics directly on store shelves. In a companion panel, executive leaders from Mexico, Sri Lanka and South Korea shared how adopting the Sustainable U.S. Soy label bridges the gap between farm-level practices and consumer trust. 

Driving Sales and Value in Asia 

In South Korea, where consumer scrutiny around ESG compliance is exceptionally high, Na Young Kim, purchasing manager at Yonsei University Dairy, reported that pairing innovative packaging with the Sustainable U.S. Soy label yielded dramatic results, with peak monthly sales rising 2.5 times post-labeling. 

Kim noted that Korean Gen Z buyers actively research corporate environmental records and boycott bad actors. Using SSAP-verified soy allowed Yonsei University Dairy to communicate both high nutritional value and low carbon footprint, turning sustainability into a key risk-management and marketing asset. 

 
Ethical Messaging in Poultry 

Dilshan Wewita, managing director of Pussalla Meat Products, an integrated poultry producer in Sri Lanka, emphasized that the sustainability of feed ingredients matters. His company integrates renewable energy, antibiotic-free production and ISO standards alongside sustainable feed sourcing. 

Wewita observed that consumers, particularly younger buyers, increasingly evaluate packaging claims and ethical practices. Even when meat products do not carry a direct soy logo, demonstrating verified sourcing strengthens brand equity and consumer confidence. 

 
Brand Stewardship in Latin America 

In Mexico, Leonel González Ávalos, procurement manager at Ragasa, one of Mexico’s leading oilseed processing and edible oils companies, explained how placing the label on flagship retail brands like Nutrioli signals long-term stewardship for people and the planet. González Ávalos noted that while certification requests originally stemmed from multinational B2B clients, regional consumer awareness is rising. 

González Ávalos highlighted the operational simplicity of the SSAP process, including the ability to receive transfer certificates directly within the USSES.org platform. He advised peer companies to start moving toward more sustainable business practices rather than waiting for regulatory mandates. 

“I would say that if you are buying soy from the U.S., implementing sustainability is really effortless,” said González Ávalos. “The protocol that the U.S. has done is amazing. To a person like me, in purchasing, you basically just need to purchase from a [U.S.] supplier. They will deliver a certificate, and those certificates can be transferred electronically. And you don’t necessarily need to have the request from your customers. You can just move ahead and start.”  

The Unified Path Ahead 

Across both panel discussions, industry leaders agreed that sustainability expectations over the next five years will consolidate into a strict “license to operate.” Navigating this evolving landscape requires a synchronized, three-part strategy: 
 

Partially funded by USDA FAS