Luiza Bruscato discusses responsible soy and the future of regenerative agriculture in global podcast
She emphasized the need to address both environmental and social challenges in soybean production, highlighting that the future of regenerative agriculture must support both sustainability and community well-being. She shared RTRS’s vision for advancing responsible and regenerative practices, which will be further discussed at the upcoming RTRS International Conference.
Luiza Bruscato, the Global Executive Director of the Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS), recently participated in GoodGeist, a podcast by UK-based creative agency Creative Concern. Hosted by Damla Özlüer and Steve Connor, this sustainability-focused podcast from the DNS Network (Do Not Smile network of agencies) explores key sustainability topics, communication strategies, and features influential global voices from business, NGOs, and government.
On responsible soy production and RTRS’s 108 Indicators
During the discussion, Bruscato dove into the intricacies of responsible soy production and RTRS’s comprehensive certification framework. She highlighted the global scope of soy cultivation and explained RTRS’s approach to environmental and social sustainability in the soy supply chain.
“In Brazil, we have huge farms—it’s completely different from the way they produce in India, where agriculture is more familiar,” Bruscato explained, noting that Brazil, the US, and China are the world’s biggest soy producers.
RTRS certification encompasses 108 indicators addressing both environmental and social aspects of sustainable production. Bruscato noted, “We include 108 indicators related to sustainable production—from social aspects to environmental aspects, taking care of all the good practices on soil health, on environmental issues, like having legal reserves, forest reserves inside the farms.”
The Role of partnership and diverse perspectives
Bruscato shared insights into the complexities of managing a diverse, global roundtable with various interests represented, from growers to industry stakeholders. She emphasized the value and challenges of convening such a diverse partnership, highlighting how this allows RTRS to implement meaningful change.
“It’s very difficult to convene all these different interests. We used to say from farm to fork, but in terms of soy, it’s more from farm to final users. It’s a huge value chain where we discuss and understand better from different perspectives, different cultures and backgrounds,” she remarked, acknowledging both the obstacles and rewards in building consensus.
On regenerative agriculture and upcoming global conference
Bruscato addressed the challenge of defining and implementing regenerative practices across different scales and regions, which will be a focal point of the upcoming RTRS International Conference in Ghent, Belgium on November 19 and 20.
“First of all, what does ‘regenerative’ mean? We don’t have a clear definition or consensus on what it entails” she explained. To make progress on this, RTRS has launched task forces in Brazil, Europe, and Latin America to explore and establish regenerative practices tailored to the agricultural and environmental contexts of each región.”
“We’re going to discuss and introduce this topic to start understanding better how regenerative practices can support us and have a positive impact on aspects such as carbon sequestration, soil health, water quality, biodiversity, and other areas where regenerative practices can surely make a difference,” Bruscato concluded.
Balancing environmental and social sustainability
Bruscato closed by stressing the importance of considering both social and environmental dimensions in sustainable agriculture, a balance she sees as crucial for the future.
“I think the world is too focused on environmental aspects. But the social aspects, for me, have been forgotten. Regenerative brings social aspects more strongly,” she pointed out, stressing the need to support communities while addressing environmental concerns like climate change and deforestation.
Listen to the podcast here: Towards Regenerative, Responsible Soy with Luiza Bruscato
