COFCO International has shipped its first soybeans certified under its own COFCO International Responsible Agriculture Standard to Thailand. The cargo, shipped for Thanakorn Vegetable Oil Products Co., Ltd., a vegetable oil and animal feed manufacturer, was loaded this week in Santos, Brazil.

Under Module 2 of the COFCO Standard, the certified soybeans are verified as deforestation- and conversion-free (DCF) since December 31, 2020, with on-farm audits covering sustainable water management, biodiversity conservation, and ethical labor practices. The COFCO Standard uses the mass balance chain of custody model.

COFCO has previously supplied soybeans certified under the COFCO Responsible Agriculture Standard Module 2 from Brazil and Argentina to other markets.

The COFCO Standard is approved as aligned with the European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation (FEFAC) Soy Sourcing Guidelines and is endorsed by the Consumer Goods Forum’s Forest Positive Coalition of Action. It was also recently included in Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) Good Agriculture Practices Programme, offering certified farmers financial incentives.

“Building deforestation- and conversion-free supply chains is a cornerstone of COFCO International’s climate strategy and its commitment to sustainable sourcing,” the company said. The company is committed to achieving deforestation-free soy and corn supply chains globally and conversion-free soy and corn supply chains in South America by the end of 2025, in line with its SBTi-validated climate targets.