Sustainable U.S. Soy Shipments Exceed Expectations for 2017

U.S. Soy exporters continue sourcing high-quality, sustainable soy products to consumers around the globe. USSEC, the American Soybean Association (ASA), and the United Soybean Board (USB) are pleased to announce over 10 million metric tons (MMT) of Soybean Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP) certified soybeans, soybean meal and other soy products have been exported from the U.S. during the 2016-2017 marketing year.
Sustainability is a key differentiator and priority for the U.S. Soy industry, and USSEC employs various tactics to educate potential customers about the quality and consistency of U.S. Soy. In 2013, USSEC, ASA, USB, and several state soybean boards launched the U.S. Soybean Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP). SSAP is a commitment to customers by the U.S. Soy family, promising the delivery of quality soy products for human consumption, enhanced feed efficiency and improved overall animal performance. The protocol covers four key components including sound environmental objectives, social responsibility, promoting economic growth, and continuous improvement in technology and cultural practices. In addition to addressing how sustainable performance by U.S. soybean farmers is measured and verified by various government programs, the SSAP also offers exporters of U.S. Soy the ability to obtain an official sustainability certificate, using the Soy Export Sustainability LLC portal, developed through a collaborative process that verifies the soy products they sell are raised in a sustainable manner.
Demands for increased sustainability from field to fork continue to prompt U.S. Soy farmers to improve their production standards; the SSAP is documenting the demand on a global level and U.S. Soy farmers continue to deliver.
“Shipments of 10 MMT for the SSAP during the 2016-17 [September 1 through August 31] marketing year has exceeded the 2015-16 marketing year by over 4 MMT of shipments,” said Will McNair, USSEC QSSB and Industry Relations Manager. “Demand from consumers continues to provide opportunities, such as the SSAP, to differentiate U.S. Soy from its competition.”
USSEC efforts, in collaboration with ASA and USB, have provided additional opportunities to communicate sustainability, now providing the ability for food, ingredient, feed, and industrial application users of U.S. Soy to market their products using Made with Sustainable U.S. Soy logo. USSEC rolled out the Sustainable U.S. Soy (SUSS) logo in 2016 as a pilot program in North Asia and the Philippines. As more and more consumers expect sustainable products, corporations are demanding supply chain sustainability, elevating sustainability from a “want” to a “need.” The SSAP provides third-party sustainability verification that helps businesses meet and document sustainability demand, and SUSS adds value by helping businesses adhere to their corporate sustainability policies and supplier guiding principles, thus differentiating themselves from their competition.
“We anticipate 2017-18 to be another great year for sustainable U.S. Soy exports and we’re looking forward to the increased presence of the Made with Sustainable U.S. Soy logo internationally,” said Mr. McNair.