Brazilian soy suppliers answer the global call for change

January 14 2021

BioMar applauds Brazilian soy producers Caramuru, Selecta and Imcopas’ swift move to ensure a complete deforestation-free and conversion-free supply chain with 2020 as their cut-off date. While BioMar has long ensured that soy from deforested areas has not entered their supply chain, this announcement shows that through collaboration the aquaculture industry can lead sustainable change.

 

“We see this voluntary sector-wide commitment as a benchmark to inspire other global animal protein sectors, as well as other markets linked to the soy supply chain. We celebrate together this relevant private sector led process for the protection of the unique Brazilian Cerrado,” said Maurício Voivodic, Executive Director WWF Brazil.

 

 

BioMar applauds Brazilian soy producers Caramuru, Selecta and Imcopas’ swift move to ensure a complete deforestation-free and conversion-free supply chain with 2020 as their cut-off date. While BioMar has long ensured that soy from deforested areas has not entered their supply chain, this announcement shows that through collaboration the aquaculture industry can lead sustainable change.

 

No soy grown on land deforested after this deadline will be traded. This bold and historic move sets a new benchmark for global sustainable supply chains and is in stark contrast to larger Brazilian soy traders, who continue to trade deforestation soy. As a result, most of the global farmed salmon industry, including the entire European salmon sector, will source soy from Brazilian suppliers whose soybean value chains are 100% deforestation and conversion free. 

 

“Today’s announcement is a testament to over a decade of collaboration and shows the result of establishing long-term commitments with Brazilian soy farmers. It also demonstrates the strength of the BioMar supplier approval program (SAAT) and how working together to find solutions can result in systemic change. We hope all supply chains will be inspired to move in this direction of transparency to ensure an open and traceable aquaculture industry”, stated Morten Holdorff Møjbæk, Global Sourcing Director, BioMar Group.

 

This marks the first time an animal protein industry has set such a voluntary and sector wide benchmark. The participants and stakeholders involved in this initiative hope to inspire other global animal protein industries, such as beef, pork and poultry to follow suit.

“The Brazilian soy suppliers and the Norwegian salmon industry show true leadership and sets the new bar for sustainable supply chains. This historic commitment by their Brazilian soy suppliers will be a game changer for the sustainability standard for global supply chains. Global pork, poultry and beef producers are lagging behind, by still allowing deforestation in their supply chain. To stop being complicit in deforestation, the meat industry must follow suit and require their suppliers to become fully deforestation-free”, Ida Breckan Claudi, Rainforest Foundation Norway, Senior Adviser.

This is the very first time Brazilian soy suppliers make such a commitment. The decision is hailed by global environmental organizations, international retailers, salmon farmers, feed companies, salmon processers and investors, who are deeply concerned about the increasing deforestation and conversion rates in Brazil.

“This is another good example of our industries ability to drive sustainable change above and beyond legislation for the good of the planet. Soy used in aquaculture feeds represents less than 0.5% of the total soy production. We hope this will inspire change beyond aquaculture to soy sourced in other animal feeds and for human consumption. At BioMar we believe our long-term commitment to working with Brazilian soy farmers was necessary to achieve our target of 100% certified soy by 2020 and we are on track to achieving this by the end of the year”, said Vidar Gundersen, Sustainability Director, BioMar Group.