Innovations transforming the soy industry
RTRS 2024 International Conference | Session 5
With a focus on collaboration and market incentives, the session highlighted the role of new technologies in driving regenerative practices across the soy supply chain. Industry leaders shared innovative approaches reshaping the soy sector, from digital farming solutions and AI-driven traceability to emerging markets for soy in biofuels.
The second day of the RTRS International Conference in Ghent delivered a blend of innovation and forward-thinking visions. The day explored the transformative power of technology, sustainability-focused strategies, and collaboration. Discussions revolved around the collective exploration of a sustainable future for soy and the steps needed to turn ambition into action.
The underlying message was clear: responsible soy is not only a possibility but an urgent necessity.
Moderated by Yan Speranza Gonzalez, Executive director of the Fundación Moisés Bertoni, Session 5 highlighted innovations that are reshaping the soy industry. Panelists included Matteo Cunial, Chief Revenue Officer at xFarm Technologies; Allison Kopf, CEO of Tract; and Michelle Morton, an independent consultant with expertise in biofuels and chemical markets.
Speranza Gonzalez set the tone: “We all know that innovation is critical for any company or sector. But the question is: what kinds of technologies and approaches truly make a difference?”
Matteo Cunial opened the session by recounting xFarm Technologies’ journey from an ambitious startup to a global leader in agricultural data solutions. “In 2018, we were a group of passionate people trying to find an easy way to digitize farming data,” Cunial said. “Today, we’re helping farmers manage over 8 million hectares worldwide.”
The company focuses on streamlining fragmented farming tools into a cohesive platform that supports sustainability goals. Cunial identified four critical steps in their approach:
- Digitalization: Simplify data collection and management for farmers.
- Agronomic Planning: Use data insights to create effective farming strategies.
- Sustainability Implementation: Guide farmers in adopting regenerative practices.
- Market Integration: Enable farmers to capture value through sustainability data, ensuring remuneration for their efforts.
“Transformation takes time,” Cunial noted. “Farmers need three to five years to transition to regenerative agriculture. But with the right tools, training, and market incentives, it’s achievable.”
Streamlining traceability
Allison Kopf of Tract tackled the complexities of supply chain traceability and regulatory compliance. With regulations like the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) coming into force, the burden on supply chains is significant. “How do we turn compliance into an advantage?” Kopf asked. “Let’s move it from an administrative cost to a market premium.”
Tract’s platform simplifies compliance by integrating internal and external data, enabling companies to meet requirements like EUDR, Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). Kopf highlighted the role of artificial intelligence in streamlining these processes: “AI can map supply chains, validate geolocations, and convert unstructured data into actionable insights. These technologies are game-changers.”
Her advice to the industry was pragmatic: “Don’t over-complicate traceability systems. Build models that are scalable and implementable at all levels of the supply chain.”
New markets for soy
Michelle Morton highlighted the growing potential of soy in emerging markets like aviation and marine fuels. While soy biodiesel faces challenges in light-duty road transport due limits on crop feedstocks and the rise of electric vehicles, Morton pointed out that the aviation and marine sectors offer new opportunities. “These industries are not yet connected to RTRS, but they should be,” she remarked.
She also stressed the role of soy in decarbonizing the chemical industry. “Chemicals could become a major market for soy, especially as industries aim to reduce their carbon footprints,” Morton added, encouraging RTRS to actively engage with these sectors.
Her message was one of both caution and optimism: “Soy’s role in decarbonization is crucial, but we must navigate challenges like land-use change and regulatory shifts. If we succeed, the potential benefits are immense.”
Spotlight on GIZ: empowering sustainable practices
Between sessions 5 and 6, the spotlight turned to GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH), a Platinum sponsor of the conference.
Christiane Holvorcem, Senior Technical Advisor for the AgriChains Brazil project, emphasized the socio-economic dimensions of sustainability. “Economic and social impacts are as crucial as environmental considerations in driving sustainable agriculture,” she said.
GIZ’s AgriChains Brazil project sponsor presentation focused on the role of a multi-stakeholder approach in the sustainable transformation of the soy supply chain in Brazil’s Matopiba region (Maranhão, Tocantins, Piauí, and Bahia).
Pedro Garcia, Sustainability Coordinator at Abiove, highlighted the success of AgroPlus, a GIZ-supported program providing technical assistance to farmers in Brazil. “Eighty-three percent of farms in the Chapadinha region, in Maranhão state, are part of AgroPlus,” he reported. “The program helps producers comply with local legislation and provides their communities with necessary tools to embrace sustainability and improve the management of their farms.”
David D’Hollander, Principal Project Manager at Proforest, shared insights from the EUDR Dry Project, which explores the practical implications of regulatory compliance. “We’ve identified challenges around data availability and consistency that require pre-competitive alignment,” he said. “Addressing these issues is essential for creating effective solutions.”
Closing with a call to action was Benjamin Mohr, Deputy Programme Manager ‘Sustainability and Value Added in Agricultural Supply Chains’ at GIZ: “We are exceeding our planet’s carrying capacity. It’s up to all of us to prioritise long-term sustainability over short-term profits. A better world is possible if we act together.”
