The meeting aimed to bring together, connect, and promote collaboration among various stakeholders in the sustainable soy value chain, while learning about different projects and initiatives led by Argentine organizations linked to RTRS and the local soy value chain.

The Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS) held its third edition of the Task Force in Argentina. The event, held on August 6th at the IUDPT Auditorium (Instituto Universitario para el Desarrollo Productivo y Tecnológico) in Buenos Aires, gathered 65 participants representing over 40 organizations, including agricultural producers, processors and traders, food-producing companies, NGOs, and certification bodies.

The objective was to bring together, connect, and create the conditions for collaborative dialogue, sharing projects and initiatives led by Argentine organizations linked to the local sustainable soy value chain and with RTRS certification in production or chain of custody.

The agenda of this Task Force included a review of RTRS, its Round Table activities, and certification results (both production and chain of custody), an overview of current projects such as the RTRS EUDR Mix certification module, regenerative agriculture, among others, and a presentation on the future regulatory landscape of the European Union, “beyond the EUDR,” highlighting the Green Claims Directive, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). 

“The third edition of the Task Force in Argentina has been a great success, demonstrating the commitment of Argentine value chain actors to sustainable production, but also reflecting the value that actors place on RTRS as a multisectoral platform and a reference in the soy value chain,” commented Luiza Bruscato, Global Executive Director of RTRS. 

These advances in sustainable production are reflected in Argentina’s recent achievements, which in 2023 recorded 400,759 tons certified under the RTRS standard, covering a total of 236,834 hectares with 56 certified producers. This growth is a testament to the local actors’ commitment to sustainability and the adoption of responsible practices in the soy value chain. 

“This event consolidated the dialogue and marked the beginning of a collaborative effort in Argentina. We deeply appreciate all the participants, and especially the new coordinators of the Argentina Task Force: Molinos Agro and Tecnocampo, for their work and commitment to continuing and enhancing this local workspace. Collaboration between civil society, producers, and companies is crucial to advancing towards sustainable agricultural production,” added Luiza.

Experiences of Argentine producers shared at the Task Force

In this third edition of the RTRS Task Force in Argentina, 10 cases, including projects and initiatives led by the participating organizations, were presented.

• Tecnocampo S.A.: First Group Certification case in Argentina 

Andrés Laxague, Production Manager at Tecnocampo S.A., shared that “the main benefit of RTRS certification is order. It helps us surpass ourselves daily, competing against ourselves to continuously improve. Additionally, it allows us to see the environment in which we operate as a strategic ally.” 

Tecnocampo, headquartered in Montecristo, Córdoba, has held RTRS multisite certification for soy for 10 years, with the first RTRS certification achieved in March 2014. The novelty this year is that they promoted and led the first group certification in Argentina, with Tecnocampo as the group manager, expected to be achieved this year. The external audit was conducted at the end of May 2024, and the final certificate is pending. In this first year, the group consisted of three producers (El Espinillo, Zako SA, Los Seis SAS) and six agricultural establishments covering a total of 4,113 hectares, 1,314 hectares of soy, and 523 hectares of conservation. 

María Francisca Llorens, Quality Manager at Tecnocampo S.A., highlighted the importance of achieving group certification, both for the growth of the work team and for the opportunity provided to other producers to implement RTRS on their farms, adding, “This project has been a great achievement, especially in terms of internal integration and supporting other producers so they too can certify and continuously improve.”

• Ferias del Norte: Positive impact on the community and the environment through a reforestation project 

Claudio Cucagna, President of Ferias del Norte, along with Juliana Cucagna, Human Resources and Communications Manager at the company, also highlighted how RTRS certification has improved internal processes and standards within the company, located in Salto, Buenos Aires, resulting in a positive impact on both the community and the work team. 

“Thanks to the implementation of RTRS, we have increased productivity, reduced work accidents, minimized negative environmental impact, and improved soil and water management,” stated Cucagna. 

Since its first certification in 2018, Ferias del Norte has certified approximately 7,400 tons under the RTRS Chain of Custody Standard. During its presentation, the company especially highlighted its participation in “Arbolar,” a reforestation project by the Center of Agronomists of Salto (CIAS) with support from private companies.

This project, extending over the peri-urban areas of that locality, aims to reduce the carbon footprint and create a positive impact on local biodiversity. “Arbolar” focuses on reforesting with native species to create shaded areas in recreational spaces and develop forest strips that benefit both flora and fauna.

• ACA: Consolidating responsible agricultural practices 

Candela Rodríguez, Sustainability Analyst at Asociación Cooperativas Argentinas (ACA), emphasized that “sustainable soy certification under the RTRS scheme is a key step towards consolidating responsible agricultural practices that respect both environmental and social factors.” 

ACA, present in 11 provinces and more than 550 localities across the country, values the collaboration between producers, organizations, and companies, stressing the importance of building a solid cooperation network to achieve a collective positive impact. 

Rodríguez also highlighted the importance of international agreements to open markets and ensure that Argentine soy and technology can compete globally.

Other initiatives and projects presented at the Argentina Task Force: 

Cintia Hernández, Secretary of Science and Technology at IUDPT, presented the IUD Evolution Program as an accelerator for the development of technological bio-entrepreneurships. 

Juan Pablo Costa, Certification Program Manager at Aapresid, spoke about certified sustainable production in Argentina, the Certified Sustainable Agriculture (ASC) standard, and the synergy with RTRS in promoting agricultural practices that ensure environmental, social, and economic sustainability, through the promotion of soil conservation, responsible water management, and biodiversity enhancement. 

Sebastian Malizia and Mariano Salerno of Fundación Proyungas discussed the added value of certification associated with biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services through the Foundation’s program, Protected Productive Landscape (PPP), a territorial management model that seeks to integrate biodiversity conservation with agricultural and livestock production in the same area. 

Federico Fritz, from CREA Movement, spoke about the InBioAgr Project, which focuses on integrating biotechnology into agriculture to promote more sustainable and efficient practices. This project seeks to use biotechnological tools to optimize agricultural production, improve crop quality, and reduce environmental impact. 

Juliana Albertengo and Felipe Albuquerque from Bayer presented the progress of the Pro Carbono Program, which focuses on reducing emissions and improving agricultural sustainability. The program covers one million hectares of soy in various productive areas of Argentina, through the implementation of practical solutions for decarbonization and the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices that help mitigate climate change. 

Agustín Ruiz Guiñazú from Rabobank presented existing sustainable financial instruments, focused on environmental protection, circular economy, carbon neutrality, waste reduction, and effluent management, as well as projects that address social challenges and generate positive impacts. 

Daniel Kazimierski, Coordinator for Argentina of Tropical Forest Alliance, presented VISEC, the multisectoral platform for environmental and social sustainability in Argentina, of which Kazimierski is a member of the Technical Secretariat. VISEC promotes the production of deforestation-free soy, contributing to the conservation of native forests and ensuring competitiveness in international markets that demand responsible products.

Special thanks to all the people and organizations that participated in this 3rd edition, and we look forward to the upcoming meetings:

We would like to give a special recognition to Aapresid and the IUDPT for their support and for hosting the third edition of the Argentina Task Force, facilitating the development of this meeting.

Access the event photo album here.

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