From responsible to regenerative: soy and the regenerative transition
At the International RTRS Conference in Ghent
By Jef Verhaeren
This year, RTRS (Round Table on Responsible Soy) chose the Vismijn in Ghent as the venue for its annual International Conference, held on 19 and 20 November. The theme was “Towards a regenerative transition”. RTRS now aims to focus on regenerative soy production. “Regenerative production is the next big step in sustainability,” stated one of the keynote speakers, John Elkington. The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) was also a hot topic, with extensive discussion and analysis.
Scrutinising the EU Deforestation Regulation
“The hot-button issue today is the EU Deforestation Regulation,” said Lieven Callewaert, RTRS Chairman, in his opening speech. “Let me put this into perspective: six commodities are covered—soy, palm oil, timber, rubber, coffee, and cocoa. Globally, 5 million tonnes of cocoa are produced, requiring 10,000 hectares of land, about the size of a medium-sized Brazilian soy farm. In contrast, the world’s annual soy production totals 400 million tonnes, requiring 125 million hectares of land. The impact of soy production is therefore immense,” explained the RTRS Chairman.
In a conversation with him, he expressed concern that the regulation overly focuses on deforestation, often highlighting only its negative aspects. “Sustainability is about much more than preventing deforestation,” emphasised Callewaert, who represents companies such as Unilever, FrieslandCampina, Vion, and Vandemoortele on the RTRS Board.
Katrien D’hooghe, Managing Director of the Belgian Feed Association (BFA) and speaker at the RTRS Conference, agreed. “The EUDR legal framework aims to reduce the EU’s global deforestation footprint by minimising its consumption of products linked to deforestation. This is intended to contribute to reducing global deforestation,” she explained. “The deforestation-free status must be demonstrated by companies through a comprehensive risk assessment. Soy entering the European market must be physically deforestation-free and traceable to the field. These last two requirements make sustainable soy certificates insufficient. However, sustainable soy certificates cover much broader sustainability criteria than just deforestation—about 100 indicators, including responsible working conditions, environmental responsibility, good agricultural practices, and zero deforestation combined with conversion-free status, meaning no natural habitats are transformed into farmland,” D’hooghe added.
For now, the market still demands soy certificates, according to D’hooghe. “These provide farmers in producing regions with a financial incentive to grow soy sustainably, unlike the EUDR, where most costs are related to administrative obligations and adapting supply chains,” she said. “If EUDR becomes a legal baseline requirement, combined with the purchase of sustainable soy certificates, it will inevitably lead to higher feed prices—a cost increase that is hard to recover from the market,” she concluded.
Setting Higher Goals
For Callewaert, the most important factor is human health, which is largely influenced by what we eat. “Soy is the primary source of protein in our food,” he stated. “The soy chain thus has a significant responsibility and potential to contribute to positive change. Soy is often seen as part of the problem, but for me, it can be part of the solution.”
He pointed out that agriculture significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions (14 to 24 per cent). This impact could be greatly reduced by transitioning from monoculture to regenerative farming practices. “Some studies suggest that applying regenerative agriculture across all farmland could reduce atmospheric carbon to pre-industrial levels within 20 years. Soy also plays a vital role in nitrogen fixation,” Callewaert noted.
“If we can achieve this across the 125 million hectares of soy production, the impact will be immense,” he added. “This opportunity must be seized by the soy chain. Regenerative practices, such as crop rotation and other forms of soil conservation, are already part of RTRS standards, and RTRS is leading this process. Hence, the title of this conference, ‘Towards a regenerative transition’. Let’s take responsibility together, and maybe one day RTRS will become the ‘Round Table on Regenerative Soy’,” Callewaert concluded.
Crucial for Climate Action
Several speakers and panels addressed the theme, but the highlight of the conference was the keynote speech by John Elkington, a globally recognised thought leader on sustainability. Elkington urged the soy sector to take action and make regenerative soil health an absolute priority over the next decade. He emphasised the need for patience and optimism, acknowledging that regenerative transitions take time but are crucial for tackling the climate crisis and achieving sustainable soy production. His roadmap for change included ambitious goals, the establishment of scientific foundations, and the engagement of all stakeholders in the soy chain.
“By 2035, 50 to 70 per cent of your sector could be regenerative,” Elkington said, leaving a strong impression on the audience. “That would be highly significant. By showing what is possible, you can lead the way,” he added. According to Elkington, sustainability should be seen as an opportunity for growth, not just a response to a challenge. He also noted that 96 per cent of companies worldwide have shifted their approach to sustainability from niche to mainstream. Finally, he reminded the audience that the path to sustainability is based on collaboration, innovation, and perseverance.
Work to Be Done
Luiza Bruscato, Global Executive Director of RTRS, summarised the conference and shared her vision for the future of sustainable soy. In a conversation with us, she expressed her satisfaction with the collective achievements (see box) of the soy sector, which demonstrate the power of collaboration in driving progress toward sustainability. At the same time, she lamented the failure of climate summits (COPs) to take the necessary steps to address the climate crisis. She called climate change the greatest threat to humanity, linking it to hunger. “We are already experiencing this in Brazil,” she said.
Bruscato also highlighted the growing impact of RTRS. “As of 31 October 2024, there are 402 certified sites in 16 countries, trading over 6 million tonnes of certified material,” she said. “This proves that sustainable soy is not just a priority but a global movement.”
She emphasised RTRS’s proactive approach to adapting to new legislation like the EUDR, pointing to the revision of the Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard. She also drew attention to RTRS’s commitment to knowledge sharing as part of its collaborative efforts.
Looking to the future, Bruscato said: “I see immense untapped potential for RTRS, and I am fully committed to building a strong sustainability story.” Her vision includes:
- Developing a stronger collaborative network;
- Strengthening RTRS’s position as the leading standard for responsible soy;
- Increasing engagement, accelerating learning, and integrating science.
A strategic plan is being developed to achieve these goals.
“The future is in our hands, and through collaboration, we can create the changes the world needs. This is just the beginning of a new chapter for RTRS,” Bruscato concluded.
Box: RTRS Today
RTRS was established in Zurich in 2006 to become the global reference for responsible soy production. Its goal was to achieve the highest sustainability standards by focusing on forest protection, biodiversity, soil health, and human health for a prosperous future for both the soy chain and society. Its members include soy producers, traders, and buyers, processors, major retailers, certification bodies, and environmental, welfare, and social NGOs.
Belgium and the Netherlands were among the pioneers. For instance, BFA has been purchasing sustainable soy certificates since 2009. In 2024, BFA purchased 500,000 sustainable soy certificates. “By 2027, 85 per cent of all soy used by Belgian feed manufacturers will comply with the FEFAC Soy Guidelines and Deforestation-Free Criteria. By 2030, this will increase to 100 per cent,” said Katrien D’hooghe.
The number of RTRS members has grown over the past 18 years to 216 members from 32 countries. Nearly 7.5 million tonnes of responsible soy were certified in 2023, impacting 2.2 million hectares and benefiting over 77,000 producers. Six countries (Brazil, Argentina, India, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Uganda) have certified soy. Additionally, 4.7 million tonnes of maize were certified in 2023, as maize plays an important role in soy crop rotation.
Photos:
- ‘Towards a regenerative transition’ was the theme of the international RTRS Conference in Ghent.
- Lieven Callewaert, RTRS Chairman: “Maybe one day RTRS will become the ‘Round Table on Regenerative Soy’.”
- Katrien D’hooghe, Managing Director of the Belgian Feed Association (BFA): “EUDR will lead to higher feed prices.”
- John Elkington: “By 2035, 50 to 70 per cent of your sector could be regenerative.”
- Various speakers and panels addressed the theme.
- Luiza Bruscato: “The growth of RTRS proves that sustainable soy is not just a priority but a global movement.”
Read the article of De Molennar here
