Progressive leaders from across South Asia and U.S. Soy farmers gathered in Colombo, Sri Lanka, for the SUSTAINASUMMIT conference this week, hosted by the U.S. Soybean Export Council. Under the theme of “Now More Than Ever,” the conference was a call to action to catalyze South Asians to integrate sustainability into their business with a focus on responsible sourcing.
Sustainability: Beyond a trend, a business need
Sustainability is not just good for the environment; it also benefits the bottom line. According to PwC’s Voice of Consumer survey, customers are willing to pay 9.7% more for sustainable or sustainably sourced goods. This market shift proves that sustainability is here to stay, and corporations that adapt will increase market share, mitigate risks and continue to build brand preference.
“Sustainably verified U.S. Soy can play an integral role in meeting customers’ evolving needs for sustainable sourcing, from livestock and aqua feed to soy foods,” added Jim Sutter, USSEC CEO. “By choosing U.S. Soy, our customers gain a competitive advantage while continuing to build trust in the market.”
U.S. Soy farmers, pioneers of sustainability
While sustainability has recently become a trend, U.S. Soy farmers have been implementing sustainable practices for decades. Methods such as precision agriculture, crop rotation, and water management have decreased soil erosion and improved soil quality. Since 1980, U.S. Soybean farmers have improved soil conservation by 34%.
“We are always striving for continuous improvement,” added Joey Boudreaux, U.S. Soybean farmer and director at the United Soybean Board. “The actions that we take today will shape the world of tomorrow. When customers choose U.S. Soy, they recognize the value that sustainably grown soy from our farms brings to their table.”
Sustainability across the global food systems
Key themes that emerged from the conference were the importance of circular food systems, sustainability, regenerative agriculture, and global trade. Speakers at the event also included Stan Born, director, American Soybean Association; Kevin Roepke, regional director - SAASSA, USSEC; Rich Kottmeyer, managing director and Practice Leader – Food, Agriculture and Beverage, Pivot; Shailesh Kumar, head of Procurement, Britannia Industries Ltd; Maha Qasim, founder, Zero Point Fonders; Moushumi Shrestha, director, Shreenagat Agro Group and Zaffar Jeevunjee, managing director, Switz Lanka.
Empowering tomorrow’s leaders in sustainable protein production
As populations continue to grow and protein demand increases, USSEC’s Soy Excellence Center (SEC) is rising to the challenge. Geared towards early-to-mid-career professionals, the SECs provide real-world practical training across its Aquaculture, Dairy, Feed milling, Poultry, Swine, Soy Foods, and Beverage Processing learning tracks. Participants learn how to optimize productivity and increase efficiency sustainably.
Sustainable U.S. Soy label: A key differentiator
As sustainability drives purchasing decisions, the ‘Sustainable U.S. Soy’ label gives companies a competitive advantage. Customers sourcing at least 60% of their soy from the U.S. for food and animal feed products qualify to use the ‘Fed with Sustainable U.S. Soy' label on their packaging. Whole soybean products must contain 90% verified sustainable soy to qualify for the ‘Sustainable U.S. Soy’ label. These labels serve as markers of supply chain transparency.
Reflecting on the label's positive impact on his business, Neil Suraweera, CEO of New Anthoney’s, added, “Consumers prefer companies that supply products made in a sustainable way. With the help of the ‘Fed with Sustainable U.S. Soy’ label, we are increasing our market share faster than market growth.”
The recent addition of Nepal’s Shree Radhe Rani International Trading now brings the total number of licensing agreements signed to use the label to 16 in South Asia in two years. This proves the rapid momentum sustainability is gaining across South Asia.
For almost three decades, U.S. Soy has been working in South Asia, fostering relationships, driving innovation, and elevating the industry's skills.
